March 26, 1946 – August 15, 2025
Katheryn L. Kelley, age 79, went home to be with the Lord on Friday, August 15, 2025, in Edmond, Oklahoma, where she resided with her daughter Tonya due to declining health. She was born on March 26, 1946, in Fort Scott, Kansas, to Herbert E. Miller and Katheryn Esther Bruce Miller. She was a lifelong resident of Fort Scott. She attended E.J. Hawkins School, Fort Scott public schools, graduated from Fort Scott High School in 1964, and from Fort Scott Community College in 1966.
While attending FSCC, she worked as a nurse’s aide at Mercy Hospital for several years, where she enjoyed caring for the sick. She later became employed at the Social Rehabilitation Service office in Fort Scott as the Supervisor of the Homemaker Program. She worked there until the job ended. In 1997, she started working for Community Care Connection as the office supervisor for 22 years, retiring in 2019.
Katheryn married Jimmy Morton in 1967, and they had one daughter, LaTonya Morton. They later divorced. In 1970, she married Ben Kelley. They had two children, Latisha Kelley and Benjamin Kelley Jr.
Katheryn loved her plants and flowers. She had a “green thumb.” In her early years, she always had a vegetable garden that she kept manicured and planted enough for the neighbors. She loved working in the yard and was great at growing flowers. She loved her cockscomb flowers and made sure she had seeds for the following year, planting them year after year. Her knockout roses were gorgeous. She was also known for her great cooking. She was an excellent cook, making homemade rolls, pound cake, cheesecake, macaroni and cheese with seven different cheeses, and her son and grandsons’ favorite, German chocolate cake. During the holidays, she would always cook enough food and invite any college student who could not go home to come and get a plate.
Katheryn could always be seen every day in her red Toyota Corolla driving to Sonic for her daily large Coke with easy extra ice. Jody Dell’Antonia and the carhops always had her drink ready for her. Thank you, Jody and Sonic staff, for treating her so well. Her main enjoyment was her grandkids, making them their favorite homemade pies and cakes. It was a joy going to Nana’s house.
Katheryn is survived by her daughters, LaTonya Morton of Edmond, Oklahoma, Latisha Kelley-Cook (Michael) of Spartanburg, South Carolina, and son, Benjamin Kelley Jr. (Kristi) of Nixa, Missouri. Grandchildren Phillip Smith of Dallas, Texas, Rayven Fisher of Spartanburg, South Carolina, Jalen, Kaden, and Jeradan Kelley of Nixa, Missouri. Four great-grandchildren, Anthony, Jade, and Xavier Smith, all of Dallas, Texas, and Khylen Smith of Spartanburg, South Carolina. Sister, Idella Brown (Keith), nephews Serone Boyd of Pittsburg, Kansas, Keith Brown Jr. (Christy) of Springfield, Missouri, and great-nephew Darien Boyd of Denton, Texas. She is also survived by two special children she cared for, Yolanda Armstrong-Green and James Robinson of Baton Rouge, Louisiana. She was preceded in death by her husband Ben and a granddaughter, Keaira Meadows.
