MONA LEE KELLEY

Jan. 15, 1935 – Oct. 8, 2021

Mona Lee Kelley, 86, of Imperial V alley passed away October 8, 2021.

She was born January 15, 1935 in San Diego and was married to Howard E. Kelley Jr. on June 13, 1959 in Chula Vista.

Mona was r aised and attended schools in Chula Vista and graduated from San Diego State University. Upon g raduation, Mona moved to the Imperial V alley where she began her first teaching position a t Oakley E lementary School in Brawley. B eing a mong c hildren was a great joy and playing the piano was her passion.

It was in Brawley that Mona met Howard Kelley Jr., a y oung f armer. Following a b rief courtship, Howard p roposed and she accepted. Mona continued teaching, but soon became very busy in her own home with h er s ix children, all born within five years of each other. Her children all attended Mulberry S chool, where Mona t aught primary school and was a teacher to three of her youngest children. She h appily played the p iano for a ll her students and watched her own children develop and grow.

She was a devoted, exceptional and loving mother who provided every opportunity f or h er children to enjoy a wellrounded childhood. S he made sure they were involved in a myriad of activities including the Girl and Boy Scouts of America p rograms (from Brownies and Cub Scouts to C adet a nd E agle Scouts), horseback riding, swim team, camping, hiking, tennis, golf and sailing lessons. If any other child in t he community, wanted to be a p art of these activities they were included. If a l eader or parental s upport w as needed, Mona w ould serve. S he w as a lso involved in 4 -H, Jobs Daughters and DeMolay. Of v ital importance to her was the spiritual development of her family. To t his end she taught Sunday school for many years. F lourishing u nder their mothers guidance, all of M ona's children graduated from c olleges of h igher education in and outside of California. Mona was t orn between her two geographical loves: the Imperial Valley and San Diego Diego. She was keen to live l ife to It's fullest in e ach of these beautiful s ettingsconstantly traveling from the Colorado d esert of California to the coastal regions of S an D iego County with her children and husband.

Mona was a founding member o f Childrens Home Society in the Imperial V alley, n ow DOVES ( Donors of Valley Endeavors). She was a proud member o f P.E.O International in b oth constantly traveling from the Colorado d esert of California to the coastal regions of S an D iego County with her children and husband.

Mona was a founding member o f Childrens Home Society in the Imperial V alley, n ow DOVES ( Donors of Valley Endeavors). She was a proud member o f P.E.O International in b oth Brawley and Coronado. This p hilanthropic work and sisterhood p rovided was meaningful. In 2 001 she became a trained docent f or A dvocates f or Classical Music. She traveled t o elementary schools in the South Bay of San Diego to introduce music programs to students, i ncluding h aving them a ttend and experience m usic o f the S an Diego S ymphony. Mona was deeply p assionate about gardening and was an active member of the Crown Garden C lub of Coronado. Mona and her husband were m embers of t he D el Rio Country Club a nd s he w as a founding member of the Northend Racquet Club.

Mona was devout in her faith and l ived l ife as if God was at her side each and every day.

Mona was preceded in death by h er h usband, Howard K elley Jr.; h er brother, C harlie R enick; and her parents, Ned Rutter Renick a nd N ellie Salmon Renick.

Mona is survived b y her six children, Mary Ellen Kelley of H ealdsburg, Michael Erin ( Jessica) Kelley of F resno, Catherine Kelley (Mike) Bouvier of San Diego, Alison Kelley (Craig) Moiola o f Brawley, L eslie Byrnes (Geoffrey) Jiranek of S eattle, a nd T imothy Edward ( Marisa) Kelley of B rawley; her grandchildren, Liam and Fiona Kelley, M adeline and Megan Bouvier, J uliana and Steven Moiola; greatgrandchild, Ashton D ial; her brother Ned Renick of S an Diego; and dear family friend Susan Rose.

Rosary will b e held November 1 9, 2 021 at 10:45 a.m. A t Sacred Heart Catholic C hurch, 655 C Avenue in Coronado, Ca. Mass will follow at 1 1:30 a.m. Officated by Father Michael Murphy.

In lieu of flowers, gifts may be made to: DOVES P.O. Box 4495, El Centro, CA 92244, Advocates for Classical Music, www.advocatesforclassicalmusic.org. or P.E.O. International, w ww.peointernational.org