KAREN LEE KELLEY May 2, 1936 – Nov. 24, 2022
Karen Lee Kelley passed away peacefully at her home in Brawley with h er f amily by h er side o n Thursday, November 2 4, 2 022. Karen was born t o E ugene and Emelin Hachten in Huntington Park, California on May 2 1936.
As a young girl, Karen looked v ery much l ike Shirley Temple with her cute dimples and beautiful smile. S he r emained close to her only brother, Stephen Hachten, throughout her life.
Her family moved frequently due to h er f ather's career in the cattle industry. She moved to Brawley and a ttended Brawley Union High School, where she met lifelong f riends a nd h er future husband, Malcolm Kelley. E ventually m oving to Glendora, she graduated from C itrus H igh School in 1954.
She attended the University o f Redlands a nd graduated from S awyer Business C ollege i n Pasadena and IVC with a degree in journalism.
In 1 956, Karen landed her dream job as a studio secretary for Twentieth Century Fox Movie Studios. She was the private secretary for P at B oone and Mickey Rooney. She worked o n the production set of The King and I, Carousel and South Pacific. H er time at 2 0th Century Fox developed her love for theater and music, which she carried with her t hroughout her life.
Karen and Malcolm, reunited as he was attending the University o f Southern California, a nd they were married February 14, 1958, in Glendale, California.
They settled in Brawley and began their life t ogether, welcoming three children, Kevin, J anet, and Ryan. They w ere married 64 years.
Karen had a passion for writing and traveling. She wrote many p oems a nd short stories for family members. H er w ritings will always be cherished.
Karen and Malcolm went on many a dventures; Costa Rica, Banff, Paris, and especially Ireland, where they enjoyed the sights, heritage, and golf.
In 1983, Karen started working for the Pioneers Memorial Hospital Foundation and was instrumental in raising funds for the PMH Intensive Care U nit. In 1986, she became t he m anager o f the Red Cross Imperial Valley Service Center. She was responsible for all disaster r elief in t he county. In 2 001, she retired with recognition for her outstanding service to the Red Cross. her outstanding service to the Red Cross.
Karen d edicated h er time to many organizations in Brawley. She was PTA president of Witter School, a member of PEO Sisterhood C hapter B S, and a frequent contributor to the Imperial Valley Press, w riting articles about her interests in bird w atching, n ature, family v alues, a nd h er love for our country.
Karen's deep faith and love for Jesus Christ truly defined her. She attended the Brawley First United Methodist Church, serving as the worship leader and Sunday school coordinator and many s ummers o f Vacation Bible School.
Karen was preceded in death by her parents, Eugene Hachten and Emelin Hachten Sutton; her son, Kevin Eugene Kelley; and her granddaughter, Emily Lauren Winkowski.
Karen Lee Kelley is survived by her beloved husband, Malcolm Kelley; her daughter, Janet Winkowski with T om; her son, Ryan Kelley with Robyn; h er d aughter-inlaw, Marybeth Kelley; her brother, Stephen Hachten with Susie; and her eight grandchildren, K athleen Spanos, Kevin Kelley Jr., Erin Holmes, M aureen Kelley, C harles Winkowski, Bridget Kelley, C onor K elley, a nd Andrew Winkowski; and great grandson, Kellen Spanos.
Our family will always be g rateful to h er c aregivers, Mari, Olivia a nd Josie for the amazing love and care t hey gave to mom and our whole family.
A Celebration of Life for Karen Lee Kelley will be held at the First United Methodist Church in Brawley on Saturday, January 14, 2022 at 11 am.
In l ieu of flowers the family suggests donations to P ioneers Memorial Hospital Foundation or The American Red Cross.