Funeral services were Monday, January 17, at 2 p.m. at Campbell Funeral Home for Geneva Francis Kelley, 78, who died January 13, 1983, at Memorial Community Hospital in Blair.

The Rev. Jerry Bady of Columbus, Nebraska, conducted the services. Burial was at the Blair Cemetery.

Geneva Francis Kelley was born February 6, 1904, in Fortesque, Missouri, to Jesse and Margaret Barker Hines. She married James Robert Kelley on March 31, 1921. They lived in Rulo and Omaha before making their home in Blair.

She established a small café near 12th and Lincoln and later moved to larger accommodations to establish Blair’s first steakhouse. They also owned and operated a gas station, tavern and the old Eat Shoppe Restaurant.

Her last business venture was the purchase of the old Blair Hospital at 13th and Grant Streets, which she converted into “Kelley’s Rest Home” for the elderly. She operated the home until her health forced her to retire.

She had resided at Parkview Manor in past years and had recently moved to Good Shepherd Home.

She was preceded in death by her husband, James Robert Kelley, and one son, William Earl Kelley.

She is survived by one daughter, Dorthe Jensen. Blair; and two sons, Robert L. “Pat” Kelley, Herman, and James L. Kelley of Ocean Springs, Mississippi. Eighteen grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; one brother, Allen “Bud” Hines of LaVista, California; one sister, Mrs. Thomas “Mary” Quigley, Council Bluffs, Iowa; and numerous friends and relatives who knew her as their “Ma,” also survive her.

Pallbearers were her 14 grandsons, Steve Halsey, Chris Jensen, Mike Kelley, Pat Kelley, Tim Kelley, Terry Kelley, Kitt Kelley, Matthew Kelley, Bob Kelley, John Kelley, Bill Kelley, Mark Kelley, James Wesley Kelley and James Kelley.

Clara Cowing was organist. Homer Nielsen was vocalist.

Campbell Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements for the services.

~~~ Obituary courtesy of the Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings on file in the Blair Public Library at Blair, Nebraska.~~~