July 10, 2018

Linn County News

Published July 11, 2018

Erin Kelley, age 29, passed away June 16 in Tulsa, Okla. She is the youngest daughter of Gary and Suzanne Thompson of Mound City and of Michael Kelley of Gilmer, Texas.

Born in Tulsa, Erin attended Broken Arrow High School and Phillips Community College. 

Our Erin was a shining star who burned bright. She loved people – championed the overlooked, empowered the shy, imparted confidence to the meek. Her sense of humor and joyful spirit were a magnet for people of all ages. She had the biggest of hearts. Her mischievous grin reached all the way to her shining eyes. Erin’s friends say she made them who they are now and that all their best stories were with Erin … Our girl burned bright. 

Erin is survived by her adored 9-year-old son Kingston Kelley Rowlands; two sisters, Shannon Patnode of Katy, Texas, and Morgan Kelley of Tulsa; step-sister Corissa Rowlands of Milford, Maine; step-brother Gary Thompson Jr. of Tulsa; grandparents Hugh and Sally Kelley of Sun City West, Ariz.; plus countless aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins spread across the country. 

A family memorial service was held June 30 at Schneider Funeral Home, officiated by Rev. Derry Gibson. Interment was to be at Woodland Cemetery in Mound City. 

Memorial donations may be made to the Mound City Christian Church in care of Schneider Funeral Home, P.O. Box J, Mound City, Kan. 66056.