of Searcy, AR

July 31, 1928 - March 17, 2021

Mona Jean Kelly, our beloved mother, sister, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt, and friend passed away peacefully on March 17th, 2021 in Searcy, Arkansas at the age of 92. Mona was born in Bayland, MS on July 31st, 1928 to Norman and Leslie Samuelson. She attended Tchula High School and graduated from City Hospital School of Nursing in 1950 as a Registered Nurse. She met the love of her life, William F. Kelly and they married in 1951. They traveled and moved often as Bill served in the Air Force in the US and overseas. Mona loved being a homemaker and mother to their 3 children, Belinda, William (Billy), and Kim. They settled in Searcy, Arkansas after Bill retired and built a wonderful life there. She was a very dedicated member of First Baptist Church where she served as the toddler Sunday school teacher for many years. She was also the director of nursing for the Leisure Lodge nursing home in Searcy, AR from 1973-1991. She cared deeply for the patients and loved teaching and guiding her employees to do the same.
Mona had an incredible servant's heart and chose to spend her time volunteering with the Samaritan's House ministry, visiting nursing homes and hospitals, and ministering to the widows in her church. She loved her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren immensely and always enjoyed having them in her home. She loved tending to her garden every year and
was an avid reader.
She is preceded in death by her parents Norman and Leslie Samuelson, her husband William F. Kelly, her brothers Alvin, Melvyn, and Norman Samuelson, sister Sylvia Tramel, brother-in-law Lee Tramel, brother-in-law Ben Gainey, sister-in-law Virginia Samuelson, and son-in-law Richard Burns.
She is survived by her children Belinda Burns, William (Billy) Kelly and his wife Lisa, and Kim and her husband Mike Wise; her brother David and his wife Becky Samuelson, and sisters Myrtle Gainey and Rosemary Samuelson, and sister-in-law Evelyn Samuelson; her grandchildren Ragan Burns, his wife Shanna and their son Asher, Chad Burns, his wife Heather and their sons Hunter and Carter, Jared Burns and his wife Allie, Mallory Meier, her husband David and their children Caleb, Noah and Hannah, Gracie Pratt, her husband Jordan and their son Bear, Abigail Wise, Evie Wise, Jack Henry Wise along with many nieces, nephews, and cousins.
She was a blessing to many and will be dearly missed by her family, friends, and community. A
celebration of her wonderful life will be held on Thursday, March 25th. Visitation will be at 1 pm
followed by the service at 2 pm at First Baptist Church, Searcy, Arkansas. Interment will be at White County Memorial Gardens.

Online guestbook: rollerfuneralhomes.com/searcy

Obituary Provided By:
Roller-Daniel Funeral Home
411 East Race Avenue
Searcy, AR  72145
www.rollerfuneralhomes.com