Katherine Kelley

Mrs. Katherine (Kem) E. Kelley, 51, of Frederick died on Friday, August 13, 2010, at Montgomery General Hospital, Olney, ending her five year battle with Multiple Myeloma. She was the wife of Gary N. Kelley, Sr., her husband of 33 years

Born April 7, 1959 in Washington, DC she was the daughter of John F. Meese of Silver Spring and the late Lillian Lucille Willis Meese.

Kem’s spirit was never dampened by her illness. After her diagnosis, she continued in her habit of always remembering birthdays, creating gift baskets for all of the children she near here at each holiday, and crocheting blankets for every new baby she knew of. The generosity of her spirit was surpassed only by her courage, grace, and faith.

Surviving in addition to her husband and father are 3 children: Gary N. Kelley, Jr of Frederick, Shauna Kelley of Baltimore and Kara K. Whirls and husband Army Specialist A. Steven Whirls, currently serving in Germany; a grandson, Jack Alexander Whirls also of Germany; 5 brothers: John F. Meese, Jr., Timothy S. Meese, Joseph D. Meese, Gary R. Meese and Christopher P. Meese. Katherine will also be remembered by her closest friend, Terry Paquette of Frederick.

The family will receive friends from 1-2 PM on Wednesday, August 18, at Stauffer Funeral Home, 1621 Opossumtown Pike, Frederick, where a memorial service will begin at 2:00 PM, with Rev. Jason Burns of St. Timothy Lutheran Church, Timonium officiating. A wake will immediately follow the service. Interment will be private.

In lieu of flowers memorial contributions be made in Kem’s name to the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation, using her memorial page, which can be accessed at www.themmrf.org .