Jean Kelsey | 1929 - 2013 | Obituary

Jean Kelsey

November 8, 1929 - June 11, 2013

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MAYVILLE – Jean Kelsey, 83, of North Erie Street, Mayville, died Tuesday (June 11, 2013) in her home surrounded by her family.

She was born November 8, 1929 in Wilkinsburg, PA, the daughter of the late Howard L. and Freda Larson Graham.

Jean had been the Senior Insurance Clerk for Chautauqua County Department of Social Services in Mayville until her retirement August 17, 1995.

She was a member of the Mayville United Methodist Church where she was a church trustee. She was also a member of the Mayville Senior Citizens, Town of Chautauqua Loan Closet, Chautauqua Township Historical Society, and a life member of the Lake Chautauqua Memorial Post VFW in Mayville. She had also been a volunteer grandmother at the former Mayville Central School and then at Chautauqua Lake Central School.

Jean enjoyed her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, travelling, sewing, reading, making and collecting Raggedy Anns and Raggedy Andys. Along with her husband, she was very instrumental with the 4th of July Parade in Mayville. She was a parade favorite for over 25 years handing out candy as Raggedy Ann.

She is survived by two daughters, Jane K. (Mark) Peterson of Fredericksburg, VA, and Robin L. (Daniel) Traub of Raleigh, NC; and one son, Charles L. (Yvonne) Kelsey of Mayville; seven grandchildren, Deborah Hendrix of El Paso, TX, Rebecca Traub of Raleigh, NC, Daniel Traub of Hubert, NC, Raechel Waid of Jamestown, Thomas Peterson of Dunnellon, FL, Miranda Robinson of Dunkirk, NY and Andrea Cole of Moore, OK; seven great grandchildren; two brothers, Howard L. Graham of Saxonburg, PA, and Henry C. Graham of Xenia, OH.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Charles A. “Butt” Kelsey whom she married January 12, 1952 in Mayville and who died June 22, 1990; one grandson, Jason Kelsey in 1980; two sisters, Eleanor (Sally) Ernst and Nancy Ross; and her step father Guion Barbour.

The funeral service will be at 11:00 a.m. Saturday in the Mayville United Methodist Church. Rev. Mark Parsons will officiate. Burial will be in the Mayville Cemetery

The family will receive friends from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Friday in the Freay Funeral Home, Mayville.

Memorials may be made to the Mayville United Methodist Church Building Fund, 81 S. Erie St., Mayville, NY 14757; or the Mayville Fire Department Rescue Squad, PO Box 2, Mayville.

You may light a candle and leave a remembrance by going to www.freayfuneralhome.com.