Faye W. Kelsey

FAYE WINIFRED KELSEY


Faye Winifred Kelsey, 93, of Edmond, Oklahoma, formerly of Rossville, Kansas, passed away September 15, 2013 at the home of her daughter. Faye was born in Oakland, Kansas on May 15, 1920. She was the daughter of Cecil and Gwendolin Darby Townsend. She graduated from Topeka High School in 1938 and went to work for Adams Brothers Book Bindery. On February 19. 1943 she married Scott Kelsey. They were married for 69 years. Scott passed away October 12, 2012. They moved to the farm in Rossville in 1950 and lived there until they moved to a retirement center in Topeka in 2001. In 2007 they moved to a retirement center in Edmond, Oklahoma.

During their years on the farm, Faye was active in the Rossville United Methodist Church, participating in the women's group, cleaning the parsonage, helping with the church yard work, working on the annual election day turkey dinner and just generally helping out where needed. She always had a large garden from which she froze and canned for the winter months. She also gave away much of her harvest to friends and neighbors. Faye never met a stranger and was always one to help them. She helped out many friends and neighbors over the years. After she moved to Oklahoma, she started collecting medicine bottles from the retirement center and also from the Edmond Senior Center. During the 6 years she lived in Oklahoma she collected nearly 18,000 bottles, which she donated to her church's medical clinic and to other free clinics throughout the area.

Before her marriage, Faye was a "star" pitcher/first baseman for a women's fast pitch softball team, which traveled throughout the Midwest. There are several newspaper accounts of her hitting in the winning run. The team attracted large crowds and one time, according to the paper there were 10,000 spectators at their game at Garfield Park in Topeka. She and Scott loved to travel alone and with friends. In the mid 1970's they took a trip around the world alone. When she lived in the retirement centers she always participated in the activities that were available: exercise classes, Wii bowling, bingo, Bible study, crafts, games, and did alterations for friends and was still playing ping pong with the "old men" at the age of 92. Faye made it her mission to introduce herself to new residents at the retirement centers and always tried to help them adjust to their new living situation.

She was a member of the Rossville United Methodist Church for over 50 years and then became a member of Crossings Community Church in Oklahoma City. Although Crossings was a very large church, she made many friends there.

Faye was predeceased by her parents and her brothers, Hubert and Billy. She is survived by her sister, Greta Kelsey, Topeka, Kansas; daughter Linda Kelsey Wise, Edmond, Oklahoma; son, Douglas Kelsey (Darlynn), Honolulu, Hawaii; grandchildren, Shandy Kelsey Condie, Gilbert, Arizona; Jereme Wise, Leander, Texas; Heidi Reeder, Edmond, Oklahoma; Leisha Johns, Queen Creek, Arizona; and Ja'Ney Mesquitta, Boston, Massachusetts and 9 great grandchildren, Logan Johns, Jackson Condie, Jacob Condie, Logan Mathews, Colby Mathews, Georgia Mesquitta, Keelie Wise, Ella Jane Reeder and Grady Reeder.

A memorial service will be held at Penwell Gabel-Parker Price Chapel, 245 NW Independence, Topeka, Kansas at 10:30 am, Monday, October 14, 2013, Private inurnment of the cremains of Faye and Scott will be in the Rossville Cemetery. The family would like to invite all friends and family to a lunch at Penwell Gabel Family Center immediately following the service.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Rossville United Methodist Church, 411 Pearl Street, Rossville, KS 66533 or to Autumn Bridge Hospice, Volunteer Program, 3500 NW 39th Street, Oklahoma City, OK 73112