Grace Kelly

Grace Burns Kelly, 87, passed away May 2, 2013 at a Houston hospital. Services will be 1 p.m. Monday, May 6, at Grace Gardens Funeral Home with Rev. Terry Graham officiating. Burial will follow in Rosemound Cemetery. Visitation will be 5 - 7 p.m. Sunday at Grace Gardens Funeral Home, 8200 Woodway Drive.

Grace was born June 21, 1925, the sixth child of S.S. (Jack) Burns and Effie O. Chaney Burns on South 18th Street in Waco, TX. She was born again in 1937 at Emanuel Baptist Church and was baptized by Brother M.L. Roads into the Family of our Lord Jesus Christ for eternity.

She attended Waco schools and later continued her education by taking classes at Baylor, Texas A&M and MCC.

She met Jesse Odell Kelly in 1939. World War II started December 7, 1941, and they were married on January 17, 1942. J.O. worked at William Cameron Company until October 2, 1942 when he entered the Army/Air Force. Grace followed him over the western United States until December 1943, when he shipped to New Guinea and the Philippines.

On July 23, 1944 a son was born, Dwayne Odell Kelly. He and his mom waited, like many other young children and moms for their dads, all the while rationing food, shoes, and anything else the “Boys” needed. Dwayne was about 16 months old when his dad saw him for the first time.

Grace and J.O. were blessed with two more “Heavenly Gifts,” a son and a daughter, Larry Mark and Sherron Joan.

Grace was a housewife until the boys were married and Sherry finished high school. Grace then worked at Baylor for 14 years. J.O. was a builder. Grace retired and worked for him as a decorator and bookkeeper.

She is preceded in death by her parents Effie and Jack Burns, her sisters Gladys Everett, Edith Dalrymple, Jack Fuentes, and Katherine Brown, her brother Glenn Burns, and her beloved son Dwayne Odell Kelly.

She is survived by her husband Jesse Kelly, her daughter-in-law Jewel Kelly, her son Larry Kelly and wife Chrissie, and her daughter Sherry Kelly Mayfield and husband Billy. Also surviving is her younger sister Martha Burns Kelly. Her grandchildren Cary Dwayne Kelly, Renee Kelly Young and husband Philip, Aaron Odell Kelly and wife Melissa, Mark Kelly and wife Nicole, Heather Kelly Maldonado, Kelly Mayfield and wife Sheri and Lindy Mayfield Heard and husband Stephen also survive her. Her great-grandchildren include Rory Kelly, Reece Kelly, Annesly Young, Riley Young, Garrett Kelly Mayfield, and Cole Mayfield. She is also survived by several nieces and nephews including Ronny Buckley, Gwenn Kelly, Lavonne Everett Elliston, Kathryn Ann Brown Moten and John Dalrymple.