CONNIE KELM

Dec 15, 1935 - June 12, 2014 EDMOND Connie Ann (Caswell) Kelm, 78, left us for God's home on June 12, 2014, and we miss her terribly. She was born in Oklahoma City to G.E. and Ruth Caswell on December 15, 1935, and spent most of her early years in the Tulsa area. Connie attended Will Rogers High School there and was a Kappa Alpha Theta during her two years at Tulsa University. She married James Kelm on February 11, 1956, in Tulsa and together, they began life's journey around the world that lasted 58+ years. The first 27 were as a U.S. Air Force family, raising five children and being assigned to numerous stateside locations as well as the Far East, Italy and England; 15 different locations in all. In addition to significant domestic responsibilities, often while Jim was gone for months at a time, Connie found time to repeatedly volunteer as a medical assistant at base and local clinics and served as President of the Officer's Wives Club at the second largest military base in Europe. Connie had two passions: her family and antiques, and she was a devoted expert in both. She formed Vintage Antiques, Ltd in 1980 and had retail locations at various antique malls in Tulsa, Oklahoma City and Edmond. She ceased active participation in the antique business in 2002 because of ill health but never lost her love of antiques and the many friends she met in the business. Connie was preceded in death by her parents; and is survived by two brothers, Rick Caswell & wife Meredith and Scottie Caswell & wife Kathy, both of Tulsa; her husband, Jim; and their five children, Rick & wife Kristi, Kathleen, Pamela Johnson & husband Don, Jim Jr., and Matt & wife Kathy; 14 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren, all in the OKC area. A Funeral Mass celebration of her life and time with us will be held at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, 9th & Blvd., Edmond, 10:30 a.m. June 16, 2014; interment to follow at Rose Hill Burial Park in N.W. Oklahoma City. Services are under the direction of Matthews Funeral Home, Edmond.