Joyce Kathleen (Acker) Kelly passed away January 28, 2018, after a long courageous battle with Alzheimer's disease. Joyce was born on June 6, 1932, in Corpus Christi, Texas to Ernest Henry & Lilly Thelma (Coward) Acker. Joyce spent the majority of her youth in the Corpus Christi area, and it was while she was in school in 1943, where she would meet her future husband David Oscar (Rabenaldt) Kelly. Joyce was a typical teenager and worked in the local five and dime store, and she also worked for a time as a switchboard operator for the phone company. She also worked at the local Movie Theater and mostly enjoyed riding her horse. During this time Joyce waited patiently for her beloved David to return from the Korean War, which he did in 1950 and they were married on May 31, 1951 in Robstown Texas. David was still in the military at this time, so the young couple packed up their 1938 Model A coupe and set off across the country to Washington State Army Base Fort Lewis from June 1951 to August 1951. Then transferring to Fort Huachuca in Arizona, where they lived off base in, the now Historical, Tombstone, Arizona. Joyce and David would return to Texas to raise five children in the north side of Houston in the Aldine area.
One of Joyce's greatest gifts was her willingness to help others. Joyce only had five natural children, but they would not be the only ones to call her Mom. At a time when Joyce and David struggled to feed their own family, she never turned away a teenager or young adult who would show up at her doorstep looking for a meal or place to stay. Joyce was a great listener and provided motherly advice to many kids, and she never asked for anything in return, only for them to get their life back together.
Joyce was also one of the early pioneers for the parking division at George Bush Intercontinental Airport where she started working on January 28, 1972 and remained there until she retired 23 years later. She went before the Houston City Council to convince them to change their dress code, which required women to wear "hot pants". Joyce and David would also start a vending business, Kelly's Quick Snack Vending which they operated for several years and sold when the couple retired. Joyce and David would relocate to Cleveland, Texas, to live their golden years together.
Joyce was preceded in death by her husband of 55 years and 7 days, David Oscar Rabenaldt Kelly and her daughter Davette Kelly Hendrickson. She is survived by her sons, David O Kelly Jr and wife Audrey, son, Scott W Kelly and wife Colleen, son, Russell A Kelly and wife Rhoda, and son, Jeffrey G Kelly and wife Tracy, along with 8 grandchildren, Eric and wife Crystal, Brian and wife Elizabeth, Amanda, Derek, Christina, Brent, Alyssa and husband Alan, Paige, and 7 great grandchildren, and her sister Merle (Acker) Jenkins, and many nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be held from 5:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m., Friday, February 2, 2018 at Pace Stancil Chapel, Cleveland, Texas. A rosary will be held at 6:30 p.m., Friday, February 2, 2018 at Pace Stancil Chapel, Cleveland, Texas. Services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, February 3, 2018 at St. Mary's Catholic Church, Cleveland, Texas. Interment will follow at Pace Stancil Memorial Rest Gardens, Cleveland, Texas.
PACE-STANCIL FUNERAL HOME
303 E. CROCKETT
CLEVELAND, TEXAS
281-592-2641