Lois Jean Kelley was born June 30, 1947 in Mountain Grove, Missouri to Oley and Thelma (Proe) Virtue. She entered her heavenly home on March 12, 2023 in Autumn Oaks Caring Center after a short illness. She was 75 years, 6 months, and 12 days of age.
Lois lived in Mountain Grove her entire life and graduated from Mountain Grove High School with the class of 1965. Shortly after graduation she went to work at Mountain Grove Head Start, and she was there until retirement in 2011. She touched many young lives, and many still remember “Miss Lois” as a favorite.
In 1975 Lois married the love of her life, Clifford Kelley, in Miami, Oklahoma. They spent many years together, and Clifford preceded her in death in 1999.
Lois accepted Christ as her Lord and Savior at an early age. She was a member of Trinity Free Will Baptist Church in Cabool. She loved her church and church family, and she served as “grandma” to many. Her hope was that everyone would have a personal relationship with Christ and to set Heaven as their goal.
Lois enjoyed reading, putting puzzles together, and embroidery. She also enjoyed trips with the “4 Old Ladies.” Her favorite thing was spending time with her family whom she loved very much, and they loved her.
Besides her parents and her husband, Lois was preceded in death by her brother Dwain Virtue; sister-in-law Monty Virtue; In-laws, Will and Marie Kelley; brothers in-law, Loyd Kelley and Paul Kelley; sisters in-law, Eva Kelley and Pat Kelley; and by one grandson, Jeff Lindblom.
She is survived by one brother, David Virtue and his wife Kim; nephew Curtis Virtue and his wife Tonya; niece Katie Peterson and her husband Pete; great-nieces Kaylee, Kinlee, Raylee, and Rylee Virtue, and Zella Peterson; great-nephew Case Peterson; step-daughter, Judy Lindblom; stepson Kenneth Kelley; granddaughters Keysha Kelley and Krystal Barnes and her husband Paul; great-granddaughter MaKaya Kelley and fiancé Cheyenne Welch; great-grandsons Lane Cantrell and Eli Barnes; great-great-granddaughter Oaklynn Welch; friends that are considered family, Johnny and Karan Carr, Nancy Graf and Bill Freeman; many other family members and friends who will miss her very much.
