Gertrude Mary Kelly, daughter of Herman & Margaret (Himmelein) Merklein, was born in Phillips County, Kansas on January 11, 1918. She passed away Sunday, October 22, 2017 at the Phillips County Hospital in Phillipsburg, KS at the age of 99.

She attended country school and helped her parents on the farm. Gertrude was baptized into the Emmanuel Lutheran Church on February 3, 1918 and confirmed on June 21, 1931. On February 27, 1946, she was united in marriage to Melvin Kelly at the church in Stuttgart, KS. The couple made their home on a farm north of Stuttgart where they raised two sons, Warren and Kent. She was a faithful and active member of the Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Stuttgart throughout her lifetime.

Gertrude was a loving wife, mother and grandmother. She especially enjoyed her grandchildren coming over and talking about their day and spending time with her. Her home was a second home to them and always a warm and loving place.

She enjoyed cooking, canning and gardening and always had beautiful flowers in front of her home. She also loved playing the organ that she had in her home.

Melvin & Gertrude retired from farming and moved into Phillipsburg in 1987. The move was something Gertrude had looked forward to and was really happy about. In 2013 ill health forced her to move to the Phillips County Retirement Center.

Gertrude was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Melvin, on September 22, 2003; and a brother, Paul Merklein.

Survivors include her sons, Warren Kelly & wife, Jan, of Phillipsburg, KS and Kent Kelly & wife, Charlotte, of Wichita, KS; her brother, Ehrhart Merklein of Phillipsburg; grandson, Brad Kelly & wife, Jaclyn, of Hutchinson, KS; granddaughter, Gina Larson & husband, Matt, of Jersey City, NJ; great-grandsons, Brock and Brant Kelly of Hutchinson and Zachary Larson of Jersey City; three step grandchildren: Brad Shorter, Lisa Shorter and Julie Nice & husband, Roger, all of Wichita, KS; and two step great-grandchildren, Lore and Lily Nice, also of Wichita.

Funeral services will be held Thursday, Oct. 26, at 2:00 p.m. in the Emmanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church, Stuttgart, with Pastor Lee Bennight officiating. Burial will follow in the Fairview Cemetery, Phillipsburg.

Mrs. Kelly will lie in-state Tuesday, Oct. 24, from 5 – 9 p.m. and Wed., Oct. 25, from 9 a.m. – 9 p.m. at the Olliff-Boeve Memorial Chapel, Phillipsburg.

Memorial contributions may be given to the Emmanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church.