Dorothy Marie Stifle Kelly

Ms. Kelly was a true 'Centurion' in more ways than one. She was born in 1913 in Oblong, Illinois. In 1917, she and her family moved to Hattiesburg, Mississippi and later to Fayette, Mississippi, where she graduated from high school. She was one of the young women selected to participate in the Natchez Spring Pilgrimage. She recently reminisced with her family about that time when she visited Natchez during Hurricane Rita. After graduating from High School she attended Nursing School in Beaumont, Texas, where she met her husband Kenneth Nolan Kelly. They moved to Levelland, Texas a small town just west of Lubbock, Texas and then to Hattiesburg, Mississippi, before moving to Waco, Texas. Her husband worked for the Waco News Tribune and she worked as a nurse for twenty years at the Hillcrest Memorial Hospital in Waco, Texas. She then began a second career as a nurse working for Dr. John Connally, not the Governor of Texas, but a cousin of the famous Governor shot during the Kennedy Assassination in Dallas, Texas. She was active in the Eastern Star, Campfire Girls, and Rainbow Girls while living in Waco, Texas. As a nurse for Dr. Connally she assisted in the delivery of many babies in Waco. After her husband died she retired from working with Dr. Connally and moved to Lafayette, Louisiana to live with her daughter and son-in-law Ava Hyde and 'Chief' John Q. Hyde IV. Little did she know she would be called back out of retirement to assist her daughter in caring for her son-in-law 'Chief' periodically, during the next twenty-five years. She is preceded in death by her husband Kenneth Nolan Kelly, her son Kenneth Kelly, her parents, and three sisters. Also, her son-in laws Jack Rainier and 'Chief' John Q. Hyde IV and her great-granddaughters Emily Moran and Faith Moran. She is survived by her daughters Dorothy A. Rainier of Conneaut Lake, Pennsylvania, and Ava Hyde of Lafayette, Louisiana. She was also survived by nine grandchildren and ten great grandchildren. Her daughter Ava Hyde's children, spouses, and grandchildren are as follows: Kelly A. Hyde and husband Virgil C. 'Buz' Reid, and great granddaughter Kalli Jackson, Margery Mullins and husband Mark and great granddaughter Hannah Grace, and great grandson Benjamin, John Q. Hyde V and wife Christine, and great grandson John Q. Hyde VI. Her daughter Dorothy Rainier's children, spouses and grandchildren are as follows: Michael Moran and wife Kathy, Ronald Moran, and wife Sue, and great granddaughter Caitlin Moran, Edward Moran and wife Agnes, great grandsons Jered Moran, and Trevor Moran, Joe Moran and wife Stefanie and great granddaughter Elizabeth, and Rebecca Darbey and husband Dave Darbey and great grandson Chuck Balog, and Dr. Katherine 'Kat' Moran and husband Dave Shumway, and great grandson Michael Hopkins. Also survived by several nieces and nephews. In keeping with her medical career she stated that after all of her medical jobs and caring for her family, she had another job that would last for at least another five years at Tulane Medical School. It was her wish to donate her body to medical science. We all bless her and hope that she will be remembered by all those that she has touched. A memorial service remembering her life will be held in the Delhomme chapel on Bertrand at 4:00 pm on Friday, March 16, 2007. Personal condolences may be sent to the Kelly family at www.delhommefuneralhome.com. Delhomme Funeral Home, 1011 Bertrand Drive, Lafayette, is in charge of all funeral arrangements.

Dorothy Marie Stifle Kelly

July 15, 1913 - March 12, 2007