Irene White Kelly

Irene White Kelly was born in Winnsboro, TX on February 17th, 1915 to General and Sally Sarah Austin. She was the eldest of eight children and has been a resident of the Tyler community since 1936. Irene attended Dunbar High School in Winnsboro, TX and was a “star” center for the lady’s basketball team. Irene Kelly became the wife of Sam Kelly on April 18th, 1948 and this great marriage was blessed with 3 sons: William H. Kelly, Milow Keith Christian, and Clinton LewisKelly. She was married for 48 years to Sam Kelly until he passed away August 1996. In addition to being a wife and mother, Mrs. Kelly was an active member in church at Liberty Missionary Baptist Church and served on the mission board and sick and shut in membership committee. Irene loved to sew, fish, plant flowers, picking and shelling pecans. She also enjoyed traveling the world alongside her husband, Sam, in the U.S. Armed Forces for 16 years. Besides spending time with her family and help electing Barack Obama as President, some of Irene’s best memories and experiences in life were overseas. Irene has earned the respect and affection of people from all walks of life and all ages.  Her secret to living a long and productive life was her faith in God, her prayer life, and personal motto “love everybody and treat everybody right”.  She lived during the most eventful century of this world’s history. In her quiet way she has been a force for good and a stabilizing influence on her family and those around her. She is preceded in death by her parents, husband Sam, sisters: Mattie White Christian, Joyce Virginia White Williams, brothers: General White, Jr., Joe Billy White, Elder James C. White, and son Clinton “Noody” Kelly. Irene leaves to cherish her memories a sister: Johnnie Mae White Rhoden of Winnsboro, TX, a brother Robert Lee “Patty” White, Sr. of Dallas, TX, two sons: William Kelly of Hephzibah, GA, and Milow Christian, Sr. of Tyler, TX; eight grandchildren, nine great grandchildren, four great-great grandchildren, and a host of nieces, nephews, and other relatives to carry on her beautiful legacy.

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