Carolyn Kelly

Our beloved mother Carolyn Ann Kelly passed away quietly surrounded by love on Tuesday October 5, 2021, she was 82 years old. She was born on February 12, 1939 in Des Moines, Iowa to James and Veronica Bensmiller. Following her graduation from Mt. Vernon High School, she worked at a local department store where she was introduced to her life-long husband and best friend Richard Kelly. After falling in love with Richard they married on January 26, 1961, going on to have three children, James, David, and Suzanne. Carolyn and the children traveled the world with Richard, a career military man and decorated veteran. While stationed in Japan, Germany, and Massachusetts, Carolyn embraced every moment as a devoted spouse and mother. As they grew older, she and Richard moved from their home in Maryland to Florida and ultimately retired to Alabama. The eldest of 7 siblings, she is survived by sisters Fran Lanning and Linda Ridgway and brother Dick Bensmiller, her son’s James Joseph Kelly, David Michael Kelly and daughter Suzanne Marie McGriff, seven grandchildren and two great grandchildren. It is with great sorrow and an unimaginable feeling of loss that we lay Carolyn next to Richard, whom she lost to the Lord in 2015, at the Iowa Veterans Cemetery in Van Meter, Iowa. May they be reunited through The Holy Spirit for all Eternity. We will greatly miss you mom.