Obituary for Karen Sue Kelley (Long)
Karen Sue Long Kelley, 79, of Pampa, Texas, went to be with our Lord on Monday, March 20, 2023. Karen was born on November 10, 1943, to R.L. “Shorty” and Juanita Long in Pampa.
She attended Pampa schools and soon after high school, Karen married and began her young married life as a military wife, living all around the United States, including Alaska for a time. She became a licensed beautician and also worked as a bank teller for a spell. While she enjoyed working in these areas, she had always been a natural-born caregiver, and nursing was her true calling. Frank Phillips College was where she began working toward achieving her goal and she was extremely proud to be listed on the Dean’s Honor Roll. Karen poured herself into her role as LVN for 41 years during which she was employed at the Pampa hospital, Baptist St. Anthony’s Hospital, the prison system, and then after a time with the nursing home in Wheeler, she retired.
It is said that dynamite comes in small packages, and Karen at just 5’3” was the epitome of the saying, she was headstrong and determined and used those strengths with pride in everything she did. After retirement, Karen settled into ranch life with her husband, Joe Kelley, in Mobeetie, until his passing. His loss prompted her to move back to Pampa to be closer to family. She loved to listen to her old-time rock-n-roll, with Credence Clearwater Revival being a favorite at top volume via her Alexa. When not listening to her music, old Westerns on television occupied her time. She also enjoyed watching nature outside her window, especially the birds and squirrels that visited her feeders.
Karen was multifaceted in that she appreciated many things such as the beauty of the lighthouses she saw when visiting her daughter in Maine, or dancing to her favorite tunes, watching the animals, spoiling her puppy, Sidney and having confidence in her faith that she would spend eternity in Heaven with her Savior! Karen was a loving and giving woman who was greatly loved by her family and will be missed by many. The world will be a little darker without her light shining.
She was welcomed into Heaven by her parents; her husband, Joe Kelley and a younger sister, Linda Ballew.
Those left to cherish her love and life of service are three children, Michael Love and wife Sissy of Pampa, Nita Luchetti and husband Mike of Saco, Maine, Brad Love and wife Lisa of Wichita Falls; five grandchildren, Eddie Love and wife Rekiesha of Milwaukee, Joseph Love of Pampa, Nathan Love and wife Emily of Wichita Falls, Abby Love of Wichita Falls, Laura Luchetti of Saco, Maine; six great-grandchildren, Shaley, Gabriel, Iris, Cayson, Clara and Charlie; a nephew, Jeff Harris and wife Becky of Pampa as well as her four-legged baby, Sidney.
A Family and Friends Visitation will be held on Friday, March 24th from 5 to 8 pm at Winegeart Funeral Home, 303 N. Frost Street.
Celebration of Life Graveside Services are scheduled for 1:00 pm, Saturday, March 25, 2023, in the Memory Gardens Cemetery Mausoleum with Brother Jim Sinyard officiating. The family has entrusted the care of their loved one to Winegeart Funeral Home.
Should donations be a preference, the family asks they be made to Pampa Animal Welfare Society (P.A.W.S), P.O. Box 2095, Pampa, TX 79066-2095 in memory of Karen.
She attended Pampa schools and soon after high school, Karen married and began her young married life as a military wife, living all around the United States, including Alaska for a time. She became a licensed beautician and also worked as a bank teller for a spell. While she enjoyed working in these areas, she had always been a natural-born caregiver, and nursing was her true calling. Frank Phillips College was where she began working toward achieving her goal and she was extremely proud to be listed on the Dean’s Honor Roll. Karen poured herself into her role as LVN for 41 years during which she was employed at the Pampa hospital, Baptist St. Anthony’s Hospital, the prison system, and then after a time with the nursing home in Wheeler, she retired.
It is said that dynamite comes in small packages, and Karen at just 5’3” was the epitome of the saying, she was headstrong and determined and used those strengths with pride in everything she did. After retirement, Karen settled into ranch life with her husband, Joe Kelley, in Mobeetie, until his passing. His loss prompted her to move back to Pampa to be closer to family. She loved to listen to her old-time rock-n-roll, with Credence Clearwater Revival being a favorite at top volume via her Alexa. When not listening to her music, old Westerns on television occupied her time. She also enjoyed watching nature outside her window, especially the birds and squirrels that visited her feeders.
Karen was multifaceted in that she appreciated many things such as the beauty of the lighthouses she saw when visiting her daughter in Maine, or dancing to her favorite tunes, watching the animals, spoiling her puppy, Sidney and having confidence in her faith that she would spend eternity in Heaven with her Savior! Karen was a loving and giving woman who was greatly loved by her family and will be missed by many. The world will be a little darker without her light shining.
She was welcomed into Heaven by her parents; her husband, Joe Kelley and a younger sister, Linda Ballew.
Those left to cherish her love and life of service are three children, Michael Love and wife Sissy of Pampa, Nita Luchetti and husband Mike of Saco, Maine, Brad Love and wife Lisa of Wichita Falls; five grandchildren, Eddie Love and wife Rekiesha of Milwaukee, Joseph Love of Pampa, Nathan Love and wife Emily of Wichita Falls, Abby Love of Wichita Falls, Laura Luchetti of Saco, Maine; six great-grandchildren, Shaley, Gabriel, Iris, Cayson, Clara and Charlie; a nephew, Jeff Harris and wife Becky of Pampa as well as her four-legged baby, Sidney.
A Family and Friends Visitation will be held on Friday, March 24th from 5 to 8 pm at Winegeart Funeral Home, 303 N. Frost Street.
Celebration of Life Graveside Services are scheduled for 1:00 pm, Saturday, March 25, 2023, in the Memory Gardens Cemetery Mausoleum with Brother Jim Sinyard officiating. The family has entrusted the care of their loved one to Winegeart Funeral Home.
Should donations be a preference, the family asks they be made to Pampa Animal Welfare Society (P.A.W.S), P.O. Box 2095, Pampa, TX 79066-2095 in memory of Karen.