Marie Kelly passed away March 23, 2026, at the age of 94. She lived in Ponca City, OK from 1952 until 2025. She retired from Conoco as the first female Refinery Personnel Manager. The family will welcome friends for visitation at Hanceville Funeral Home in Hanceville, Alabama on Wednesday, March 25th from 12 p.m. – 2 p.m. A graveside service will take place on Thursday, March 26th at 3 p.m. at Oak Hill Cemetery in McAlester, Oklahoma.
Born in 1931 as the 6th of 8 children born to Moses E. and Lula A. Garner in Fairview, AL,
She married Ernest Kelly Jr. of Haileyville, OK in December. 1952 and moved to Ponca City. She subsequently had three daughters: Sharon Kay Kelly, Kim Kelly Boone (Calvin) and Kit Kelly Burdick (Carl). Marie is preceded in death by her parents, husband of 63 years (Ernest), her daughter Sharon Kay, her grandson Lucas Burdick, granddaughter Hannah Hunter, 4 sisters and 1 brother. She leaves behind 2 daughters, 3 grandsons, 4 great granddaughter and 1 great grandson as well as 1 sister and 1 brother.
Now the fun stuff:
Marie graduated from Fairview High School, where she was voted “most likely to succeed”. Her father was a cotton farmer, and she grew up picking cotton, riding in a horse and buggy, and, when she was around 10 years old, had electricity run to their house, which ended up being a disappointment as there was no loud noise or pop or any sound of fanfare when it was connected that announced they now had electricity.
Her little brother, Larry, never let her forget the time she broke his nose when they were playing baseball in the front yard; but if he ever brought it up, she would remind him that she could do it again.
Marie’s life was an adventure. She founded what was called at the time the Kay County Council for Retarded Children; she was active in the First Christian Church; and after her retirement helped her husband with his business Kelly Enterprises and operated a local TV station as well as running Fireworks Supermarket for years.
Marie loved fishing, playing cards, board games, dominoes and casinos. She was an excellent cook and her fried catfish and hush puppies were the best around. She was an expert at cleaning fish rapidly, mostly out of necessity as Daddy would get up early to go fish before he went to work. Mom would get up to find live catfish swimming in the kitchen sink.
Mom was beautiful, stubborn, independent, fearless and if she ever lowered her head and looked at you over her glasses, either grovel or run. She had a legendary point past no return when she had exhausted all patience. You didn’t mess with Mom. Even Daddy was scared and he was present at DDay in WWII. Mom could repair anything—lawnmowers, cars, broken gadgets, anything, again because Daddy simply missed that man gene; fortunately Mom was man enough for both of them.
She was a good Mom. When we girls were little, before she went to work she would pack our lunch pails and taped a nickel to the lid for milk. If we needed a signed note or extra money for school, she would put it in an envelope and pin it to the front of our dresses so we wouldn’t lose it. For church and special occasions, she would spit curl our bangs and put pink rollers in our hair.
She tolerated Daddy sneaking his home made stink bait under our pillows and in our pockets.
She was a much beloved daughter in law to Ernest Kelly Sr and wife Francis Buchanan Kelly of Haileyville OK. We would make the 4 1/2 drive from Ponca to see them, and one time Daddy stopped to pick up 2 bullfrogs and threw them in the car. Mom had to find the bulllfrogs where they had hidden in the car, and then kill them and help cook them. Her in laws dearly loved her and cherished her and were astonished that Daddy married up.
She was a riot and had a dry sense of humor. As you can tell, we love her, and will miss her badly, but it is with gratitude to God that we thank Him for her, and have such a great example before us of a life well lived. So thank you, Mom. We love you.
