Deloris Ann (Kelly) Jennings (Dee or Dee Dee), 60, died suddenly on November 17, 2021. She was born on June 19, 1961 in Albany, New York, to Francis J. Kelly III, Md., The second child , and Deloris L. Kelly. Her father’s career took her to Ellsworth AFB, South Dakota in 1966 and then to Bozeman, Montanna. She attended the Irving and Emerson Schools in Bozeman. The family briefly moved to the Bay Area of California before moving to Fairbanks, Alaska. Deloris graduated from West Valley High School in Fairbanks with the 1979 class. She honed her culinary skills at the Hutchison Career Center in Fairbanks. She married, lived and worked in Fairbanks until 2005 when she returned to California with her children. In 2018 she returned to Bozeman and lived in the Legion Villa until her death, where she made many friends.
Dee learned her love for the outdoors from her parents and the experience of living on the family ranch, where she enjoyed hiking and exploring as a child. Her interest and talent for cooking came from her grandmother, Kelly. Her visual artistic sense and creativity came from her mother. The gift of compassion for others came from both of their parents. During her teenage years, she learned to play the mandolin without formal instruction and sang in the high school choir. She enjoyed collecting stones when she was a little kid on the ranch and had a talent for imaginative writing. She found a rewarding and meaningful career as a caregiver at Fairbanks and continued that work until her own disability forced her to retire. Her physical ailments were a great challenge that she bravely tried to overcome. Although she is greatly missed by her family and friends, she is no longer in pain and is now with God and her family who left the earthly world before her.
Deloris loved her children with all her heart. She taught them to be loving and caring people and shared their gifts and interests with their children.
She leaves behind her children, Micheal Allen Jennings, Jr. of Cedarville, Calif., And Margaret Kathryn Jennings of Bozeman; her mother, Deloris L. Kelly of Bozeman; Sisters Kathryn L. Kelly (Bob Judd) and Margaret M. Kelly of Bozeman; Brothers, Francis J. Kelly IV (Sheila), Tory N. Kelly of Wasilla and Palmer, Alaska; and Sister Teresa C. Kelly of Fairbanks, Alaska with six nieces and nephews in Alaska. Her husband, Micheal Allen Jennings, Sr., preceded her in death; her father, Dr. Francis J. Kelly; and her younger brother Michael Bernard Kelly.
A memorial service was held on December 4th at the Dokken Nelson Funeral Service. She was buried in a private service. To honor her memory, please consider making a donation to Reach, Inc. of Bozeman.
The preparations are in the care of the Dokken-Nelson Funeral Service.
Published by Daily News-Miner on December 5, 2021.
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