Betty M. Kelley

Betty M. Kelley, homemaker and former co-owner of Western Funeral Supply, died at her home in Wichita on Wednesday, August 13, 2025, at the age of 87.

She was born at Wichita on September 16, 1937, the daughter of Orlen L. and Maxine (Miller) Green. She attended Wichita schools and was a graduate of Wichita West High School, where she met and later married Lee Kelley.  She also attended Emporia State Teacher’s College.

Betty was a homemaker and had worked for Ambassador Cards, a division of Hallmark, as a district manager but being married to Lee, she became involved in the funeral supply industry, attending state and national conventions with him. When they began Western Funeral Supply, she worked that booth at conventions while Lee worked the booths of his ‘real’ jobs with Champion Fluid Company, then ESCO, and finally Artco Casket Company.  She was also an Assistant Funeral Director and officer of Campbell-Kelley Funeral Home in Eureka. Lee preceded her in death January 11, 1997.

She is survived by daughter, Karen (Galen) Lowe; son, Michael (Rose) Kelley; brother, Larry (Pam) Green; grandchildren, Collin Lee (Emily) Kelley, Ian Michael Kelley and Kelley Gale Lowe; four great-granddaughters, Elise Marie, Grace, Jordan Cade and Addison Grey; along with several nieces, nephews and great nieces and nephews.  Betty was preceded in death by her parents, husband, brother and sister-in-law, James E. and Anna Green.

A memorial service will be held, 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, September 2, 2025, at Downing & Lahey Mortuary – West Chapel, 10515 W. Maple, Wichita.  Inurnment will follow at Resthaven Gardens of Memory, Wichita.

Memorials have been established in her name with the Kansas Funeral Directors Association Scholarship Fund, 1200 S. Kansas Avenue, Topeka, KS 66612 and the Sedgwick County Zoo, 5555 W. Zoo Blvd., Wichita, KS 67212.