Lydia Mae Stanton Kelley

Lydia Mae Stanton Kelley, 89, of Portland, departed this world on Wednesday, October 26, 2016 at the Dermott City Nursing Home. She was a native of Bigelow. Mrs. Kelley attended school in Jerome and graduated from Dermott High School.  She and her husband owned and operated the Highway Café where many people enjoyed delicious meals prepared daily.  She worked as a bookkeeper at the Farm Equipment Company and often filled in as the Office Manager at Portland City Hall.  She was a member of the Portland Baptist Church where she served as Women’s Missionary Union Director, Vacation Bible School and Sunday School teacher for many years.  She was a member of the Eastern Star and during her tenure she served as Worthy Grand Matron and Delegate to North Carolina.  She was a very loving, cheerful, funny lady with a warm heart.

She is preceded in death by her husband of 62 years, Floyd Kelley in 2009; her parents, James and Lillie Basden Stanton and two brothers, Chester and Kenneth Stanton.

She was a devoted mother to her five children.  She is survived by a son, James Kelley and wife, Karen, of McGehee; four daughters, Janice Sadler and husband, Jimmie, Mary Lawrence and husband, Carlton, Joy Cunningham and husband, H.T., all of Portland and Nancy Young of Shreveport, Louisiana.  She was proudly called “Mamaw” by her nine grandchildren, Clayton Lawrence, Krista Fortenberry, Chris Crane, Kim Ratcliff, Layton Kelley, Hayden Cunningham, Matthew Crane, Ben Cunningham and Tyler Young and 19 great-grandchildren, Travis, Katy Beth, Ellison, Kelley, Caroline, Drew, Gavin, Katelin, Carley, Claire, Seth, Luke, Sarah, Claire, Cole, Blake, Evan, Harper and Emory.

Funeral services are 11 a.m., Friday, October 28, 2016 at the Portland Baptist Church with Bro. Jerry Selby officiating.  Burial will be in the Portland Cemetery.  Pallbearers are her grandsons, Clayton Lawrence, Chris Crane, Layton Kelley, Tyler Young, Matt Crane, Ben Cunningham and Hayden Cunningham.  Memorials may be made to Alzheimer’s Arkansas, 201 Markham Center Drive, Little Rock, AR 72205 or Portland Cemetery Association, PO Box 51, Portland, AR 71663 or the Portland Baptist Church, PO Box 86, Portland, AR 71663. 

 Visitation will be 10 a.m. until funeral time, Friday at the church.

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