Mary Evelyn Kelley

Mary Evelyn Kelley passed peacefully in Salem Oregon at 2:00 AM November 25th, 2025, she was 95.

She was born in Louden ILL to Rufus and Mary Stults. She is the last serving child of 6 brothers and 1 sister. Her family lived through the great depression, giving us stories of her and her family’s hard times growing up.

She met and married John Robert Kelley in Veneta Oregon on November 9th, 1947. They moved to Junction City living in a small apartment above a barn where they worked on the local farm. Years later her husband who went by Bob got his radio and TV FCC license and started working as a repairman for her brother Carl Stults. Many years later they worked hard and built their own company’s Springfield Radio and Commutations and Cableview INC. During this time they moved to the Camp Creek valley in east Springfield. Bob passed and she continued to live there until she was 89. With Bobs passing Mary continued their companies for more than 15 years. During this time she was awarded the city of Springfield “businessperson of the year.

After Mary retired and sold the business she spent her days enjoying the outdoors planting flowers and tending to her five-acre property. Her property was immaculate! Some day’s she would be out there from sunup to sun down. She loved it. Spring was her favorite time of the year. Winter, not so much. She did not like it when leaves would mess up her clean driveway. Oh boy would that make her mad! Unfortunately, her loved camp creek property became too much for her to take care of safely. So, it is this time in her life she moved to Salem, Oregon to be closer to family.

During Mary and Bobs lives together they enjoyed hunting, fishing, and the outdoors. They traveled the United States pulling an RV trailer. Their longest trip was to Springfield ILL where her oldest brother lived. Her and Bob did get to travel overseas for a 2–3-week European tour. She was happy to return and be back to the United States in which she truly loved.

Durning her life in Springfield she was involved in city affaires and charitable events. She headed up events such as Springfield hospitals MASH BASH, Irish festival, October Fest, and many other local charity events.

Mary had a special annual tradition of making donuts in the fall and her famous peanut brittle. Everyone always looked forward to the parties at the Kelleys. Mary was quite the host and loved to have people come up to the house.

Her family was made up of 4 children, 1 daughter Jean, 3 sons, John and Pat. With only Jim still living. Out of her children she has 7 grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren.