Katherine Elizabeth Elmore was born Sept. 25, 1909, west of Houston, Mo., to George Alexander and Mellie Ann Lynch Elmore. She lived in Texas County until 2000 when she moved to Pleasant Valley, Mo., near Kansas City to be close to her daughter.
Katherine attended Houston schools, graduating in 1927, after which she attended the Springfield Teachers College and, until 1933, taught in rural schools, including Cleveland, Oak Hill, Clara and Gravel Point.
In October 1932, she married George Oren Kelley of the Gravel Point community. Their daughter, Mellie Ann, was born in 1935. They moved to a farm in the Cleveland community a year later. Their son, Roger Lee, was born in 1940.
Katherine returned to college in the summer of 1951, during which time she also taught at the Oak Grove School. After graduating from SMS in 1955, she began teaching history and English at Houston High School, where she remained until she retired in the early 1970s. Soon thereafter, she moved with her husband George into Houston.
Coming from a strong Christian family, at age 15 Katherine accepted Christ and united with the First Baptist Church of Houston, where she remained an active member throughout her life, teaching Sunday School for nearly 70 years.
Katherine died peacefully Wednesday morning, Nov. 26, 2008, at Pleasant Valley Manor Care Center.
Preceding her in death were her parents; her brother, Champ Elmore; her husband; and her son.
Survivors include her daughter, Mellie K. Weekes of Pleasant Valley, Mo.; grandson, Grant Lee Kelley and wife Carol of Chandler, Texas; and Mellie’s children and grandchildren: Catherine Nix and son, Rainer; Jenn (and Rusty) Klein and their children Tayler, Kelley, and Josef of Kansas City; and Jonathan Weekes of Pleasant Valley.
Funeral services were Tuesday, Dec. 2, at First Baptist Church of Houston at 10:00 AM. Dr. Howell Burkhead officiated, with burial in Pine Lawn Cemetery. Services were under the direction of Evans Funeral Home.
Contributions can be made in her memory to First Baptist Church of Houston, Missouri Retired Teachers Assoc, or Good Shepherd Hospice, 7611 State Line Rd., Suite 200 Kansas City, MO 64114.
Online condolences may be sent to www.evansfh.com.
PAID