Obituary of Marilyn Barnwell Kelley

Marilyn Barnwell Kelley, 88, of La Porte, Texas, passed gently from this life on Monday, August 5, 2019 in Lake Jackson, Texas.  She was born on October 11, 1930 in Goose Creek, Texas to Harvey Alyson Barnwell and Wilma Eubanks.

She met and married her High School Sweetheart and love of her life, Billy Lee Kelley also from Goose Creek in 1950.  They had just celebrated their 69^th year of marriage.

A longtime resident of La Porte, she was a member of La Porte Community Church and a member of La Porte Beta Sigma Phi sorority.  Marilyn worked as an accountant plus bookkeeper for the City of La Porte and La Porte Independent School District.  She loved life, camping and meeting with her sorority sisters.  After moving into a retirement community, she enjoyed meeting new friends and playing bingo.  Her most recent passion was watching the Houston Astros on TV.  She wouldn’t miss a game.  She loved watching her birds through the window.  The first chore Marilyn would have her daughter Karen do on her daily visit was to keep the bird feeder full.

Marilyn is preceded in death by her parents, her twin sister, Margie Scott and her son, Michael Lee Kelley.  Left with cherished memories are her husband, Billy Lee Kelley, sister, Wynette Jones, daughter, Karen Lowder and husband, Scott; grandchildren, Kari Ross, Chris Lowder and wife, Corrine; great grandchildren, Ty Ross and wife, Katherine, Jordan Ross, Devin Martinez, Mikalyn Lowder and Maddix Lowder; great-great grandchildren, Jayden Ross and Aria Ross.

A celebration of life has been scheduled for Friday, August 9, 2019 at La Porte Community Church, 202 South 1^st Street, La Porte, Texas 77571. The visitation will be held from 11:00 am until 12:00 noon, with the funeral service following beginning at 12:00 noon.