Rita Marie (Lonergan) Kelley

March 23, 1935 - February 21, 2014

Memorial funeral services to celebrate the life of Rita Marie Kelley (nee Lonergan) of Beaumont, TX will be held at a later time in Davenport, IA. Honoring Rita’s wish, cremation rites have been held. Rita passed away Friday, February 21, 2014 at St. Elizabeth Hospital in Beaumont, TX. She was a resident of southeast Texas for many years. She was a resident of Summer Place in Beaumont for the last 4 years,

Rita Marie Lonergan was born March 23, 1935 in Davenport, Iowa, to Thomas James Lonergan and Margaret Grace (Quinn) Lonergan. She graduated from St. Paul the Apostle School and the Immaculate Conception Academy. Following her graduation, she was proud to be employed at the Davenport Bank and Trust Co.

She was united in marriage to James Alex on January 30 1954 at St. Paul the Apostle Church in Davenport, IA. Following their wedding, they moved to south Louisiana where Mr. Alex worked for many years in the oil field business. He preceded her in death.

In 1968, she married Patrick Henry Kelley in Davenport, IA. They resided in southeast Texas where Mr. Kelley was a helicopter pilot. He preceded her in death.

Rita’s greatest gifts and joy were her four children, her six grandchildren, and her great grandchildren. She was proud of her Irish heritage and never lost a chance to celebrate being Irish which included singing the lullaby’s that she treasured from when she was a young child. Her Faith filled her heart and gave her strength and courage.

Survivors include her children, Stephen Michael Alex, Kerrville, TX, Sally Jean Humphries, Irving, TX, and John Thomas Kelley and his wife Tina, Beaumont, TX ; five grandchildren¸ Kevin Alex, Austin, TX; Chet Alex, Austin, TX; Dee Dee Goff of Krum TX, and Chelsea Alex and Homer Dee Humphries III of Irving TX; one great granddaughter Laura Lee Raupp, three great grandsons Riley Goff, Anthony and Austin Foster; her sisters and brothers-in-law, Kathy and William W. Cumming, Davenport, IA, Mary L. and Robert E. Dunworth, Egg Harbor, WI and her brother, James M. Lonergan, Davenport, IA, a sister in law, Fran Lonergan, Davenport, IA, 23 nieces and nephews, and 36 great nieces and nephews.

Rita was preceded in death by her parents, her daughter, Kim Alex Carelli; her son-in-law, Homer D. Humphries, Jr; granddaughter Stacy Humphries Foster; her sisters, Patricia Ann Barnard, Bridget Ann Lonergan, and Margaret M. McClung (Mags) and her brother, Thomas James Lonergan.

Her beautiful smile and her spirit and love will be forever remembered.