Patricia Bailey Kelley passed away peacefully at the age of 94, at Maybelle Carter Assisted Living in Madison Tennessee. Born on October 9, 1930 in Rockville, Maryland, she was the beloved only child of Thomas and Lucille Bailey of Laytonsville. Maryland.
She is survived by her children Michael Kelley of Dallas TX, Charlie Kelley (Nan) of Rockwood TN, Chad Kelley (Denise) of Brunswick MD, Anne Kelley of Nashville TN, her granddaughter, Patricia Franks of Bellevue TN, and grandson Ben Kelley of Harper’s Ferry West Virginia.
Patricia grew up in Laytonsville MD where she was an active member of the 4-H Club, raising championship steer which she showed at the Montgomery County Fair. Her parents were instrumental in the founding of Saint Martin of Tours Catholic Church and School in Gaithersburg from which Patricia graduated. She completed her high school education at Gaithersburg High in 1948, matriculating to Immaculata College in Washington DC, where she earned an Associate’s degree. Later that same year, she was awarded a teaching certificate from Peabody College (now a school of Vanderbilt University). She taught second grade at Sherwood Elementary School in Sandy Spring MD for six years before beginning her family.
Patricia and her husband Tom were avid bridge players, frequently hosting dinner gatherings and parties at their Pleasant Hills Farm home. Patricia was an excellent cook, never fearful of trying something new, but still relying on her family’s country cooking favorites. She enjoyed square dancing, needlework and a mesmerizing array of family pets from special bovine friends to multiple canine family members of all sizes from Pugs to Irish Wolfhounds. She had a boundless love for all creatures, especially dogs.
After moving to the Donelson area of Nashville TN in 2003, Patricia became active in the Homemaker’s Club, was a member of the Church of the Holy Rosary in Donelson and continued entertaining newfound friends. She became an avid watcher of hummingbirds and looked forward to their arrival each spring.
At the age of 91, Patricia moved to Maybelle Carter Assisted Living in Madison, TN. There she continued winning friends – and winning at Bingo, enjoying the “happy hour” music on Fridays, and even managed to host a Christmas party in her apartment. Hershey’s Kisses and Peppermint Patties were always available for friends and staff who needed a little “happy” in their day.
Patricia is preceded in death by her parents, Thomas and Lucille Bailey, her husband John Thomas Kelley III of Pleasant Hills Farm, Darnestown MD, and grandchildren Addie Kelley and Matthew Sinclair Franks.
A funeral Mass celebrating Patricia’s life will be held on Tuesday, June 17 at 10:00 a.m. at the Church of the Holy Rosary, located at 192 Graylynn Drive, Nashville, TN 37214. Visitation will precede the service beginning at 9:00 a.m. Family interment services will be held in Darnestown MD in the autumn. https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/nashville-tn
In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests donations in Patricia’s memory be made to Holy Rosary Academy, 190 Graylynn Drive, Nashville TN 37214 or Saint Martin’s School, 115 South Frederick Avenue, Gaithersburg, MD 20877.
For more obituaries visit https://davidsoncountysource.com/obituaries/
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