- Date Of Birth: November 22, 1936
- Date Of Death: April 12, 2020
- State: Texas
Jeannette (Mayfield) Kelley, 83, of Belton passed away surrounded by family on Easter Sunday, April 12, 2020 at her home in Belton.
Jeannette Mayfield Kelley, a middle child with three siblings, was born in Waco, Texas to Dan and Beulah Mayfield on November 22, 1936. Dan was an executive in the Texas Life Insurance family business and both he and his wife were deaf since early childhood. Jeannette was raised in Texas where she attended private Kindergarten and public schools and also where she met the love of her life, John Thomas Kelley. They married October 16, 1959 after knowing each other only three days with the marriage lasting 58 years. Prior to their marriage, Jeannette had four small children, Jeannette, Dawn Lorri, and David. John was looking for a family and Jeannette was needing a father for her children. Within a short while, John adopted all the children and together they had a child, J.T. and fostered Jennifer Tucker. They then moved to the Belton-Temple area where she would soon begin her undergraduate and post-graduate studies.
From early on, Jeannette wanted to devote her life to glorifying God through serving children. She received her Bachelors of Science from the University of Mary Hardin Baylor and her Masters of Science from Baylor University. She then went on to become a special education teacher at Miller Heights Elementary School for 7 years, a vice principal at Central Elementary School for 2 years, a principal at Miller Heights Elementary School for 1 year, and a principal at Lakewood Elementary School for 13 years. Jeannette found fulfillment as a teacher and principal and treasured having the responsibility of touching the lives of hundreds upon hundreds of children.
Jeannette entered into retirement with a relentless passion and energy to serve children in Temple and Belton. She became a local leader in Project Angel Tree which provides Christmas gifts for children of incarcerated parents. She also created Project Apple Tree which provides school supplies and an outfit of clothing for needy Belton ISD children. Additionally, Jeannette served on the Belton ISD School Board for 7 years. She was also heavily involved in Bundle of Joy and the Hope Pregnancy Center which are both ministries that provide supplies for babies born to mothers in poverty. Jeannette was a member of First Baptist Church, Belton, Texas where she was involved in several ministries ranging from missions, choir, prayer, grief, and everything in between.
Jeannette Kelley passed from this life into the arms of Jesus surrounded by her loving family on Easter Day, April 12, 2020. She is survived by one brother Alan Mayfield (wife Robin) of Waco, Texas, sons David Kelley (wife Sharon) of Temple, Texas and J.T. Kelley (wife Tina) of Temple, Texas, and daughters Jeannette Duer (husband Layton) of Fort Davis, Texas, Dawn Avary (husband John) of Southlake, Texas, and Lorri Brunson (husband Garion) of Odessa, Texas, as well as 19 grandchildren and 27 great-grandchildren.
