PHYLLIS GOUIN KELLY

Phyllis Gouin Kelly died peacefully on March 23, 2012 at the age of 84. Daughter of the late geologist Frank Gouin and Gertrude Gouin, twin to the late Frank L. Gouin, sister to June G. Wood and the late Gayle G. Ritch, Mrs. Kelly was originally from Duncan, Oklahoma, and was a graduate of Oklahoma State University where she was a member of the Pi Beta Phi sorority. While at OSU, she met and married George E. Kelly whose career led her to Rapid City, SD; Memphis, TN; Potomac, MD; Atlanta, GA; and Germantown, TN. Retirement years brought joyful summers at the couple’s summer home on Togus Pond near Augusta, ME. In each place she called home, Mrs. Kelly actively participated in and contributed to her community. She was a member of Germantown Presbyterian Church where she was named Honorary Life Member of Presbyterian Women. She was also a summer member of the South China Church in South China, Maine. Mrs. Kelly’s numerous volunteer endeavors included many years of service at the Church Health Center in Memphis and several years of teaching knitting to hospitalized expectant mothers at the Baptist Hospital for Women. In addition, Mrs. Kelly’s skilled knitting and innate creativity repeatedly earned her top honors at the annual Windsor Fair in Maine. She was also a long-time member of the Suburban Garden Club where her love and knowledge of flowers continued to thrive. In all of her communities, Mrs. Kelly was known for her gifts of countless hand-knitted baby caps, heart pillows for convalescing mastectomy patients, her own garden flowers, and comforting foods given with love to those who were ill or grieving. She will be missed by many. Mrs. Kelly is survived by George E. Kelly, her husband of 64 years; her sister June G. Wood of Norman, OK; her children Thomas Kelly, Kathleen Kelly Hajack, Patricia Kelly Allen; her sons-in-law Michael Hajack and Paul Allen; her grandchildren Lane Hajack, Jeff Hajack, Mick Hajack and step-grandson Colby Allen. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Church Health Center, 1210 Peabody Avenue, Memphis, TN 38104 or to a charity of the donor’s choice.