Emma Kelly

Mrs. Emma Elizabeth (Ruff) Kelly, 89, of Cheyenne, Wyoming, passed away early Wednesday morning, July 25, 2012, at Life Care Center of Cheyenne. Mrs. Kelly was born May 23, 1923, in Platteville, Colorado, a daughter of the late David W. and Eva M. (Specht) Ruff. Emma married Thomas Hugh Kelly on May 31, 1943, in Pine Bluffs, WY. Mr. Kelly's family was one of the early day pioneers of the state. His family came to Wyoming in 1881 and became actively identified with the Kelly Ranch which was established in 1870, and was located in Laramie County near Pine Bluffs. Hereford cattle were run on the property. The brands were "JT Lazy K" and "LWR". In 1986, Emma wrote that "when I married Tom, we lived in a 9' x 9' bedroom - our "home" for eleven years. The closet was angled across one corner of the room, about 2 ½ feet wide (no room in the Inn). Also, Mother Kelly didn't put water into the house as she said she carried water all those years and I could, too. So the water was not put in the Kelly house until Tom's mother passed away. It was not easy. Also, Tom had an aunt who lived with us. She was crippled from a run away with horses and wagon. So Tom put up with three women in one household - he went to town often! His aunt lived six years with us until her death. She was Bridget Kelly, sister of Winifred Kelly. " The Kelly Ranch was sold in 1967 to Leo Jessen of Wyo-Nebr. Corp. Tom and Emma went to Australia, bought a "Station" called Dampier Downs and found new frontiers to conquer. They returned to the USA in 1968 after reselling the Station down under and located to Dubois, WY, where they resided until Tom's death in 1994. She then moved to Cheyenne to be closer to her family. Emma was a lifelong communicant of the Catholic Church, and she will be remembered as a loving mother and grandmother who loved to sew, cook and had numerous other interests and hobbies. Emma is survived by three children, Elizabeth C. Reher and husband, James, Mary L. Robinson and husband, Jay, and Michael Kelly; seven grandchildren; and 1 great-granddaughter. She is preceded in death by her parents; her loving husband, Thomas H. Kelly; and a son, Thomas H. Kelly, Jr. Visitation will be held on Monday, July 30, 2012, from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the Schrader Funeral Home with a Vigil for the Deceased to follow at 7:00 p.m. at the Schrader Chapel. A Funeral Liturgy will be celebrated on Tuesday, July 31st at 10:30 a.m. at St. Mary's Cathedral with Father August Koeune as celebrant. An interment service will follow at Olivet Cemetery. Expressions of sympathy in Emma's memory may be made to Meals on Wheels, 2015 South Greely Highway, Cheyenne, WY 82007.

Service

Tuesday, July 31, 2012 10:30am

St. Mary's Cathedral

2101 Central Ave.

CHEYENNE, WY

Visitation

Monday, July 30, 2012 3:00pm - 5:00pm

Schrader Funeral Home

2323 Carey Avenue

CHEYENNE, WY 82001

Interment

Olivet Cemetery

Pershing Blvd.

CHEYENNE, WY 82001