Obituary of Nelda Blanch Kelly

Nelda Blanche (Crites) Kelly Our mom, Nelda Blanche (Crites) Kelly, sunrise, October 18, 1932, Tioga West, Virginia; sunset, April 9, 2008, Olympia, Washington. This serves not only as a notice of information but as a notice of thanks for the life our mom, Nelda Blanche (Crites) Kelly and in thanks for the many people who in an assortment of ways enriched her life and who made it the wonder that it truly was. In 1936, mom, her six brothers and sisters, parents, Ray Crites and Dora (Hamon) Crites headed west from West Virginia, eventually settling in the Brady/Montesano area. Since we all love Washington so much, we’re surely glad they didn’t head to California! Over the course of the next 72 years, our mom took an incredible journey through motherhood (to this day, none of us know how she did such a fine job with so little), a career as an LPN (El-Peon as she’d say), all the while living a life that was rich with family, crocheting, baking, gardening, and involving herself with the lives of her enormous extended family in her sometimes sarcastic but always loving way. The kind words, caring, crafts, and wisdom were never in shortage. Included among those she leaves behind but so enriched are her sons, Stanly Kelly, Jr. and his wife Kathy of Prosser, Washington, Paul Kelly of Olympia, and John Looysen and his wife Trish also of Olympia; grandchildren, Sean M. Kelly of Colorado Springs, Colorado, Ashley Croy of Aberdeen, and Destyn Looysen of Puyallup; sisters, Martha Mollett of Arizona, Phern Yakovich of Olympia; brothers, Darwin Crites of Olympia, Elwin Crites and his wife Phyllis of Arizona, and Oshel Crites and his wife Clara of Tumwater; and numerous nieces and nephews. Her mom, dad, and younger brother, Doug Crites had left previously in 1959, 1968, and 1986 respectively. While our mom’s extended family is too extensive to list in full it included, Judy, Dave, Byron, Tara, Glen, Chuck, Marcellus, Nod, Steve H., Rick, Ken, Steve F. and Jamie, Glenn, Dan, Charley, Thomas, Fran, Israel, Char, John, Russ, Larry, Dwight, Joe, and many others. From our family and on behalf of our mom, you all, in all the roles you played, have our thanks. We ask that you take care of yourselves and live beautifully as surely that is what she wanted of you. A celebration memorial will be announced at a later date.