Grace Celess Kelsay's Obituary
Grace Celess Kelsay, daughter of Charles Everett and Ollie Jane (Robertson) Hightower, was born August 3, 1916, in Grovespring, Missouri. She departed this life Sunday, June 10, 2007, in Hartville Care Center, in Hartville, Missouri, at the age of ninety years, nine months, and seven days. On August 25, 1937 she was united in marriage to Ivan Almon Kelsay by Reverend David St. John, and to this union one son and four daughters were born. She was preceded in death by her husband, Ivan, on April 2, 2001; her parents; a great-grandson, Matthew Beyer; two brothers, Dalton and Clifford Hightower; and a sister, Dulcia Childers. Grace is survived by four daughters, Janette Hudson, and her husband, Darrell, of Grovespring, Vina Bass, of Mountain Grove, Missouri, Judy Dugger, and Sandra Harp, both of Hartville, Missouri; one son, Robert Kelsay, and his wife, Betty, of Mountain Grove, Missouri; eighteen grandchildren; forty-five great-grandchildren; eleven great-great-grandchildren; four sisters, Edna Burris, Delores Shaddy, and Glennis Hogan, all of Hartville, Missouri, and Betty Gray, of Alamosa, Colorado; three brothers, Frank and Ezra Hightower, both of Grovespring, Missouri, and Herman Hightower, of Hartville, Missouri; a brother-in-law, Lee Kelsay, of Hartville, Missouri; a number of nieces and nephews; as well as a host of other relatives and many friends. She was born and raised in Grovespring and attended the Luallan School. She lived with older folks taking care of and working for them, until she married Ivan in 1937. Then in 1939 they moved to the farm where she worked alongside Ivan and lovingly raised their family. Grace gave her life to Christ when she was eleven years old and then on Christmas day of 1927 she was baptized and attended Hilltop Church. Her family was very important to her and she loved making them Sunday dinners. In her spare time she enjoyed working in her garden and growing beautiful flowers. Grace was a loving mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, great-great-grandmother, sister, and aunt and was a caring neighbor and friend. We celebrate her life and accomplishments and will cherish the wonderful memories she has created for her family and friends. Services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, June 13, 2007, in the Holman-Howe Funeral Home, Hartville. Burial will be in the Shaddy Cemetery, Grovespring. Visitation will be held Tuesday evening from 7 - 8:30 p.m. under the direction of Holman-Howe Funeral Home of Hartville, Missouri.
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