Claire Nell Kelley, 86

A graveside celebration of life for Claire Nell Kelley, 86, of Louisburg, Kansas, formerly of Ava, will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 12, at the Ava Cemetery. A visitation will be held from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 11, at Clinkingbeard Funeral Home in Ava. 

She died Aug. 4, 2023, with her family by her side in Olathe, Kansas. 

Claire was born Dec. 14, 1936, in Drury to Louie and Imogene Henderson. After graduating from Gainesville High School, the family moved to Kansas City, Missouri, where she worked as a copy girl for the Kansas City Star and then an operator for Southwestern Bell. While at the Star, she married Ray Corey, and continued working and raising four kids. After a stint at Weyerhauser Lumber Company, Claire returned to Southwestern Bell, eventually relocating to Wichita, Kansas. 

In October 1980, Claire and Doyle Kelley married, joining their two families.

Claire retired from Southwestern Bell in 1995, having worked in both the Lincoln and Broadway offices as an area manager of operator services. She and Doyle returned to the Ava area to enjoy the Ozarks they loved. In 2021, they moved to Louisburg to be closer to family. 

She was a member of the Ava Baptist Church and P.E.O.

Claire’s passions were family, reading and she was a master quilter. Her beautiful quilts were gifted to every member of the family. She and Doyle enjoyed traveling – he would drive while she quilted. 

Claire is survived by her husband, Doyle; her children, Randy Corey and wife Kristen, Dan Corey and wife Teri, Tanya Glennon and husband Steve and Lee Wadsworth and husband Don; two stepsons, Brad Kelley and wife Helen and Jeff Kelley and wife Candace; 11 grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren. 

 Memorials may be made to the Ozark County Volunteer Library, PO Box 518, Gainesville, MO 65655, or to the Denlow Cemetery or Henderson Cemetery. 

Services are being conducted by Clinkingbeard Funeral Home, Ava. Online condolences may be made to www.clinkingbeardfuneralhome.com.