Loreta Kelley

Amber Loreta Lewis Kelley, a long-time resident of Abilene, died March 26, 2015 in the Granbury Care Center in Granbury, Texas at the age of 97 years, 2 months and 24 days. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, March 28, 2015 at 2:00 pm in the chapel at the University Church of Christ, 733 E.N. 16th Street. A visitation with the family will be on Friday, March 27 from 6:00 - 8:00 pm at Piersall Funeral Directors, 733 Butternut Street.

Loreta was born on January 2, 1918, in Midlothian, Texas to P.G. and Anna Lewis. She taught school until her marriage to V.W. Kelley during WWII. After the birth of their first child, she was a full time homemaker until the last of their four children was in high school, at which time she began teaching at ACU to defray costs of tuition for her children to attend college there. All four children graduated from ACU, as had she and V.W. She retired in 1985 and remained very active in W Club, Delta Kappa Gamma and Women For ACU until about the age of 95. She was a faithful member of University church of Christ.

Loreta was preceded in death by her parents, P.G. and Anna Lewis, brothers LeMoine G. Lewis and wife Shirley, Roy Lewis, H. Clyde Lewis and wife Griffie, nephews David Lewis, Dr. Gaunce Lewis, nieces Ann Lewis and Dr. Stephanie Harter, and sisters-in-law Lanell Lewis and Annie Mae Lewis. She is survived by her 4 children: daughter Ann Dyer of Granbury, Texas, son Mike Kelley and wife Jenny of Longmont, Colorado; daughter Terri Larson and husband Dave of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma and son Steve Kelley and wife Amanda of Balinger, Texas; 9 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren, a brother Jack P. Lewis of Memphis, Tennessee, sister-in-law LuGene Lewis of Abilene, brother-in-law Dr. Charles Kelley of Plano, Texas; and many nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you consider a donation to the Women for ACU or the V.W. and Loreta Kelley Scholarship fund at Abilene Christian University.

Condolences can be offered to the family online at www.pbfuneraldirectors.com.