Bonnie Nell Kelley

Bonita Nell Hampton (Bonnie) Kelley passed away on Monday, November 7, 2022, in Idaho Falls, Idaho.

Bonnie was born over 90 years ago in Taylor, Idaho, where she spent much of her youth. She attended Shelley schools, where she graduated Salutatorian of her class. In the summertime, she helped her dad on the farm and her mom with gardening and canning. She enjoyed playing sports, swimming in the canal, and playing the accordion.

After high school graduation Bonnie found office work in Shelley and began dating Gene Kelley. They were married on June 1, 1950, in the Idaho Falls Temple. They moved into a small farmhouse south of Shelley, where they lived for ten years when four of their five children were born. During these years, Gene farmed, and Bonnie was busy with children, escaping on Saturday nights to play accordion in the Stake Orchestra.

In 1960 Bonnie and Gene built a new home in the Kelley Park Edition in Shelley, where their fifth child was born. Here Gene developed a subdivision of homes and trained to be an appraiser. Bonnie lived in this neighborhood for the remainder of her life, moving only once to a home they built across the street.

She loved to garden and took great pride in her beautiful flower beds. A hard worker, she was a consummate homemaker who found joy in cooking, cleaning, and sewing. She was always supportive and present in whatever activities included her children.

Bonnie enjoyed traveling to visit her family. She attended Appraisal Conventions with Gene all over the continental United States until he passed away in 2004 after 53 years of marriage. After Gene died, she was happiest at home, where she lived in the same neighborhood as her son Jeff and his family, who looked after her.

Service in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was an essential part of Bonnie’s life, and she served in almost every calling and every auxiliary. She particularly enjoyed serving in the Idaho Falls Temple later in her life.

Bonnie was preceded in death by her parents and siblings, husband Gene Kelley, son Greg Kelley, and grandson Maxwell Harris. She is survived by daughter Ann Harris (Randy) Arroyo Grande, CA; daughter Kristine Mansfield (Mike) Midway, Utah; son Paul Kelley (Julie) Farmington, Utah; and son Jeffrey Kelley (Shayla) Shelley, Idaho.

The family would like to thank The Gables of Ammon and Nalder Funeral Home sincerely. The family would like to express a heartfelt thanks to Brio’s hospice nurse Angela, who lovingly cared for her for the last couple of months of her life.

Services for Bonnie will be held Saturday, November 12, 2022, at Nalder Funeral Home, 110 W Oak St. Shelley, Idaho. Visiting with the family is scheduled from 11:30-12:30, and a memorial service at 1 pm.

Those who would like to participate in the funeral service remotely are invited to view the service on a live broadcast on the Nalder Funeral Home Facebook Page.

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