Mae Kelley

Mae Dean Kelley (Greene), 85, of Waco, TX, went to be with her Lord on Tuesday, Sept. 20, 2016. Dean was born September 17, 1931, in Drasco, Arkansas, to John Jefferson Greene and Beatrice Grace (Goodman) Greene. Her family later moved to Oregon, where she graduated high school and enlisted in the Navy. While stationed at Pearl Harbor, she used her gift of writing for the Stars and Stripes newspaper. She also met the love of her life, Stanley W. Kelley, who was stationed at Hickam Air Force Base. They were married at the Submarine Base Chapel in Honolulu on September 3, 1954, and enjoyed sixty-two years together in marriage and ministry to others. Dean graduated from Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo and began her career as a Sunday School teacher, public school teacher, and administrator. After retirement, Dean and Stan became short-term missionaries at Camp Barakel, Fairview, Michigan, until they moved to Waco, Texas in 1993 to be near their family. They travelled to Russia several times on mission trips, as well as Montana. Dean was a fearless teacher and prayer warrior. She was passionate about her Savior Jesus Christ, her family and friends, and exploring new places and trails. She turned her love for travel and writing into a post-retirement occupation by writing travel and human interest stories for local papers. Dean enjoyed art, good music and books, and coconut cream pie. She never turned down a hard-fought game of Up Words. Dean is survived by her husband, Stan; daughters and sons-in-law, Sharon and Terry Landa and Susan and Joe Ortiz; grandchildren Michael, Erin, Joseph, Matthew, and Richard; siblings John D. Greene (Carolyn), Anna J. McKimmy (Jerry), Patty Roland (Charles) and Richard Greene; many nieces and nephews; and multitudes of cherished friends at Meadowbrook Baptist Church in Robinson, Calvary Bible Church in Kalamazoo, and Camp Barakel in Fairview, Michigan. Family and friends celebrated her life and home going on Friday, September 23, at Meadowbrook Baptist Church, in Waco, Texas. Memorial contributions may be made to Meadowbrook Baptist Church, Camp Barakel, or SouthernCare Hospice ( Waco, Texas). The family wishes to thank Dr. Bond Browder and Missy McFarland; Dr. Maydee Rosario-Reglero and the other doctors and staff at Waco Lung Associates; the outstanding staff of SouthernCare Hospice Services, and the many dedicated caregivers from Right at Home. Pecan Grove Funeral Home www.pecangrovefuneral.com.