Doris Keane Kelly
1929-2022
Doris Kelly passed away peacefully recently in Boise, Idaho after a long illness. She was born in New York City and grew up there and in nearby Westchester County, NY. After graduation from high school, she attended Parson School of Design in NYC majoring in interior decoration, an education she used to nicely furnish and decorate the many homes she lived in later. In June 1949 she married her high school boyfriend Mark Kelly in St. Joseph’s church in Bronxville, NY. They moved to Midland, Michigan where Mark had accepted a job with The Dow Chemical Company. She soon became a mother when Maureen and Douglas were born which brought much joy and meaning to her life. In Midland Doris was a parishioner of St. Brigid’s Catholic Church as well as a member of book, bridge, social and tennis clubs.
Several moves followed elsewhere in the USA, Europe and finally to Tokyo, Japan for almost four years. Doris fit right in with the Japanese, a people she grew to love. She took cartography and ike bana lessons (Japanese flower arranging), a talent she carried through the rest of her life. Doris was an artist which included weaving, potting, quilting and painting. She also loved gardening and flowers.
After Mark retired, Doris and Mark returned to the US, lived briefly in Santa Fe, New Mexico and then for a long time in Reno, Nevada. A highlight there was attending weekly Mass with the Carmelite Sisters, all of whom became close friends.
Now having the time, she and Mark took several small ship cruises, African safaris and land tours to many interesting global places. She even liked being with Mark in remote fly fishing lodges in Patagonia, South America, New Zealand and elsewhere.
Doris was also very fond of summers in their seasonable homes in northern Michigan and later in the Teton Valley, eastern Idaho.
Because of her illness, Doris and Mark moved to Boise, Idaho five years ago to be near our family. She entered The Terraces of Boise memory care and assisted living facility last year and was very well cared for until she died.
Surviving Doris are her husband Mark of 73 years, son Douglas and his wife Pamela, daughter Maureen and Fred, four granddaughters; Heather, Tamera, Ashley and Eron; a grandson, Douglas Jr., two great granddaughters and her sister Betty Kubisiak.
A family memorial service is planned.
Those thinking of a donation to charity in Doris’ memory should consider The Alzheimer’s Association.