Obituaries

Linda Kelly

Photo of Linda Kelly
Linda Gaye Kelly, 65, of Jefferson City, Mo., passed away Monday, July 25, 2011, at the home of her daughter, Teddi Sweeney, in Atlanta, Ga. She was born November 12, 1945, in New Bloomfield, Callaway County, Mo., and was the only daughter and fifth child of Nadine Foster Smith and Homer D. Smith. Linda attended elementary schools in New Bloomfield and Jefferson City and graduated from Jefferson City Senior High School in the class of 1963. Linda began her work experience with Mo. Dept of Agriculture and later assumed a position of Advertising Representative, Coca-Cola products in a Kansas City advertising firm. At that time, she met and married Ted Herman. To this marriage was born a single daughter, Teddi Herman Sweeney. After various residences across the United States, Linda returned to Kansas City where she assumed a position of Merchandising Manager for a cosmetics firm. She became acquatinted with and later married Tim Kelly. As a railroad worker, Tim was transferred to Van Buren, Ark. Not long after establishing residence there, Tim was diagnosed with a long term illness and Linda became his primary caregiver until his death. After her retirement, Linda returned to the Jefferson City area to be near close friends and family. Linda was devoted to home, her dog "Tootie", and a deep love of the Native American culture, as was most of her immediate family. She is survived by one daughter, Teddi Herman Sweeney and husband, Brian Sweeney and beloved granddaughter, Samantha "Sam" Sweeney of Atlanta, Ga.; two brothers, Ronald Smith (Jeanne) of Lake Ozark, Mo. and Ken Smith (Karen) of Lawrenceville, Ga. She was preceeded in death by two brothers, William F. Smith (Corinne) and Gary Lynn Smith. A celebration of Linda's life will be held at Domenico's Restaurant in Jefferson City, Mo., on August 14, 2011. Friends will be received from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m.

Published August 11, 2011