Community Almanac

Mary Kelley Passes Away

Taken from the Western News-Oct. 25, 1977

Compiled by Katherine Kelly Gifford

                CORVALLIS, --- Mary C. Kelley, 99, passed away at Daly Memorial Hospital October 23, 1977. She was born at Corvallis, September 17, 1878. She was the daughter of the late Benjamin Strange and Amanda Goffe Strange. She married M. L. Kelley at Corvallis, March 7, 1894. He preceded her in death. She had lived in the valley all her life.

            Funeral services are set for Wednesday Oct. 26 at 2 p.m. at the Corvallis Cemetery. Reader will be Margaret Lockridge of the Christian Science Church.

            Survivors include several nieces and nephews. Everett Hustead, Buhl, Ida.; Ted Strange, Pioneer, Calif.; Faye Thompson Homedale, Ida.; Lorraine Logan, Hamilton; Edna Thomas, Corvallis; Mrs. Roy (Idell) Hardin, Tacoma, Wash.; Mrs. W.G. (Irene) Hickey, Stevensville. Dowling Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.

[End Obituary]

             Mary Catherine Kelley was born a Strange on Sept. 17, 1878. She was born in Corvallis to Benjamin and Amanda Goffe Strange. Mary was married to Michael L. Kelley on March 7, 1894. Michael owned a cigar shop which was sold to a man named Haigh in the year 1915. It is currently called the Rainbow Bar and Poker and is located at 113 N 2nd St, Hamilton, MT. Mary Kelley had no living children, but did have two daughters. Nellie was her first, born May 6, 1895, but died soon after she was born. Lena Agnes was born two years later in 1897. When Lena was about a year old, she died from cholera. Michael and Mary never had any children after that. Her husband succeeded her in death, and Mary Catherine Kelley followed him in death on Oct. 23, 1977 at the age of 99 years old. She is buried at the Corvallis Cemetary, MT.