Shirley Kaiser Kelley

Shirley, 91, passed away of natural causes on August 16th surrounded by her loving family.

Born April 17, 1934 in Rilton, PA, the daughter of the late Olgard (“Oggie”) Kaiser and Rosalie LaValle Kaiser.

Shirley grew up in Herminie, PA, with her family and many beloved aunts, uncles and cousins. She attended the University of Pittsburgh, where she pledged Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority and met her husband, Bernard (“Bernie”) K. Kelley. After college she moved to New York City and worked as a stewardess for Eastern Airlines.

She and Bernie married on September 13, 1955. Immediately after her wedding, she supported her husband as an Air Force wife. After they left the military, she and Bernie lived in Pittsburgh PA, Rochester, NY, and Greensboro NC while they started their family and established his homebuilder career. They settled in Charlotte with their four children in 1970.

Shirley was an active go-getter her entire life. Her greatest passion was her family, as  well as cooking and entertaining family, friends and acquaintances in her home. There was always room at her table. She also enjoyed golf, travel, fashion, sewing, needlepoint, knitting, jewelry making, painting and music. She was deeply involved in her children’s lives as a school volunteer, Brownie Scout and Girl Scout leader. “Mamere,” as she was affectionately known by her grandchildren, was famous for solving your problems, giving advice, and telling you what to do.

Throughout her life Shirley fearlessly reinvented herself many times. She was a Charlotte realtor for years until she followed her passion for cooking and entertaining by opening up Domenica’s Courtyard Cafe (named for her grandmother), a restaurant and catering company in Matthews, NC. After she sold the restaurant in her late 50's, she became the General Manager of the Morehead Inn. When the Inn was sold, she managed the Thistle Restaurant at the Dunhill Hotel, and then became the guest lodge manager and pastry chef at The Old North State Club, before returning to real estate and retiring at 73.  She got her first tattoo at 70, another at 75, and a third one at 80 years old. She and Bernie moved for a time to Florida, where through her 80’s she became a jewelry artisan, selling her unique necklaces and bracelets at boutiques in both Del Ray, Fl and Charlotte. She also baked and sold her cakes to the Pompano Beach American Legion.

Most importantly, she had a deep commitment to her grandchildren, family and extended family. She worked tirelessly to instill this commitment in her children and grandchildren from weekly Sunday family dinners, cookie decorating parties, Easter egg hunts, and annual beach trips, to assuring everyone attended the annual family reunion. Mamere set a shining example as the Matriarch of her family. She had a big love that knew no bounds and, in spite of personal tragedies and losses, had an infectious zest for living life abundantly.

She is survived by her husband of 70 years, Bernard K. Kelley, and her children Keith Kelley, Laura Kelley Baker and Linda Kelley Huddleston (Skip); 10 grandchildren Christopher, Nicholas, Erik (Nina), Bryce, Cameron, Kaitlin, Caroline, Allie, Jacob and Rhett; 3 great-grandchildren Ziggy, Ezra and Elise; and many great nieces, nephews and cousins.  Shirley was preceded in death by her daughter Alison Leigh Kelley, who passed away in 1975, her parents Oggie and Rosalie Kaiser, and her beloved sister and brother, Sandy Kaiser Barin and Ronald O. Kaiser.

A Catholic Mass will be celebrated in the chapel at St. Matthew Catholic Church, 8015 Ballantyne Commons Pkwy., Charlotte, NC, at 12:45 p.m. Immediately following the mass, burial will take place at the columbarium at St. Matthew.

Her family will receive friends in the chapel before the service 12-12:30 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in her memory to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or the Wounded Warrior Project.