Dorothy Ann Kelly

Dorothy Ann Kelly Born December 20th, 1934 in Anson, Texas. Died October 26th, 2023 in Tishomingo, Oklahoma. She was the second of three daughters born to Herman and Reba Scott. Herman was an electrician by trade, starting as a lineman repairing and installing the lines connecting towns and communities in the Texas panhandle and eastern New Mexico, to eventually owning one of the most successful electric companies in El Paso, Texas. Reba had an esteemed teaching career. She had a gift for teaching that was passed down to Dorothy who followed in her mother’s footsteps pursuing an undergraduate and master's degree in education. She received her bachelor's degree from Texas Western College (UTEP) in 1956. The year before that, on February 2, 1955, she married her sweetheart, Tom Kelly who was in his final semester at Texas A&M University. Their first child was born in 1957, a daughter. It wasn’t long (14 months to be exact) that Tom and Dorothy had a son and Thabo three years later a second son was born. While Tom served in the United States Army, Dorothy lived the life of an Army Wife and Super Mom. Experiencing four unaccompanied tours of duty, two during wartime, she carried on as a single mom. She described her life as a wonderful adventure. Constantly on the move, creating a comfortable, stylish home at each new assignment. She soaked up the culture in places like Hawaii, Washington D.C. and Seoul Korea, and made lots of friends along the way. After a full 30 years of military service, the opportunity to live on the same land that the ranch where Tom was born and raised in Bowie, Arizona was presented to them, Dorothy wasn’t so sure she was cut out to be a rancher’s wife, but knowing it was Tom’s dream to run cattle, she bit the bullet and climbed on board. It wasn’t long before the two of them fully embraced the lifestyle and considered it one of the happiest periods of their lives, ultimately purchasing a ranch in New Mexico and managing a herd of nearly 200 cattle. When they were made an offer they couldn’t refuse for the ranch, they sold and downsized the operation to Tishomingo, Oklahoma. Life was great. The folks in Tishomingo were welcoming and socially accepting. Dorothy was a bridge enthusiast and joined a variety of groups of lady card players, making the dearest friends. She was fun to be around, with an amazing sense of humor and positive outlook on life. She had a beautiful smile and a sparkle in her eyes that lit up a room. She was the hostess with the most-est. An animal lover, she rescued lost and lonely dogs and cats and provided them with a life they were blessed to have. She was a loving and devoted mother, considering her children as her greatest treasure in life. When her soulmate, her anchor, the literal love-of-her-life passed away in 2013, she was devastated but she took control of her situation and managed to create a very comfortable life for herself in town. The rancher’s wife became a city gal. She lived the latter part of her life with a number of physical challenges. Diagnosed in 1999 with inflammatory breast cancer. This was when a new cancer drug was in the early stages of use, Herceptin, and she was blessed to find one of the leading oncologists in the world using the cutting-edge medicine in Alburquerque, New Mexico. After aggressive stem-cell replacement therapy she was cancer free for 21 years. When her cancer returned two years ago, she decided to simply go with surgery. She was strong! She was a warrior! She faced the worst with pragmatism and positivity. She was ready to slip away when the time came. She was a role model for dying with grace. She will be deeply missed by those who knew and loved her. Dorothy, or Dot as was known by many, was preceded in death by her parents, Herman and Reba Scott, her sister Barbara Jan Matthews, and her husband Col. Thomas Lee Kelly. She is survived by her sister, Peggy Walton of Las Vegs, Nevada; her daughter and son-in-law Kathy Kelly Christos and Chris Christos of Norman, Oklahoma; son and daughter-in-law Thomas Riggs Kelly and Laura Dailey Kelly of Atlanta, Georgia; son and daughter-in-law David Kelly and Randi Kelly of Dallas, Texas; grandchildren Christopher Kelly (Atlanta), Capt. Kristin Kelly Lea (Fort Bragg, N.C.), Colton Kelly (Atlanta), Brannick Clay Kelly (Yukon, OK), Sarah Kelly Kalis (Dallas); great-grandchildren Reed and Jack Kelly (Shawnee), Alayna Kelly (Yukon), Matthew and Thomas Kalis (Dallas). Dorothy Ann Kelly’s Life will be celebrated and remembered at 11:00 AM, Saturday October 28th, DeArman Clark Funeral Home.

Tributes

Dorothy Ann Kelly

December 20, 1934 - October 26, 2023