Cora Kelley

Cora Belle (Cody) Jackson Kelley, 81, passed away Friday, May 14, 2010 of natural causes. Cody was born September 30, 1928 to H.E. (Gene) and Helen Jane Frew Jackson, the 10th of 11 children, in Idaho Falls, Idaho. At the age of 10 Cody's mother passed and she lived with and was raised by her sister, Agnes, until her graduation from Ucon H.S. in 1946. That same week she moved to Payette with her sisters, where she met and fell in love with her life partner, Lawrence D. Kelley. They were married soon after in Weiser on June 15, 1946. Between 1947 and 1951, they had two sons and two daughters moving from Sun Valley, Twin Falls, then finally to Boise, where they lived in the north end for the next 55 years. In 1972, they adopted a six week old baby girl, the fifth of their five children. In 1984, Larry retired and they spent many summers traveling the Northwest in their motorhome. Starting in 1983, Cody worked in the Boise School District cafeterias and continued to do so for over 20 years. Cody and Larry spent their spare time at the YMCA where they enjoyed water aerobics and made numerous wonderful friends until Larry's passing in March of 2005. She missed him dearly over the next five years. In 2006, she moved in with their oldest son, Leslie and lived there until one day before her passing where she was moved into a local care facility. Cody was a wonderful homemaker and stay at home mom, even to the neighborhood kids, where we all enjoyed having breakfast before school and her delicious dinners. Cody is survived by her sons, Leslie (Boise) and Howard (Bremerton, WA); her daughters, Hazel (Joe) Marez (Nampa), Rosanne Walsh (Portland) and Shannon (Chuck) Martin (Boise); a brother, Rex (Marlene) Jackson (Tacoma, WA); 8 grandchildren; 9 great-grandchildren; a niece, Helen Wolfgang (Sedona, AZ) and nephew, Al (Gene) Wolfgang (CA); and numerous other nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her husband of nearly 60 years, Larry; her brother Tiny; and her sister, Agnes. Visitation will be held from 10:30 a.m. until 12:00 p.m., Saturday, May 22, 2010 at the Cremation Society of Idaho, 5541 Overland Rd., Boise. There will also be a wake at Leslie's home after the visitation at 7196 Obsidian Dr., Boise. The family would like to thank Peggy Novac for her special friendship with mom and for all of the care and goodies you brought to her regularly. She cared for you very much. We would also like to thank Tara Jacobs for your love, care, compassion and laughter that you shared with mom. She loved you dearly and we're sure the fire you lit under her helped her hang on a little longer, you will always be family to us. Mom you were a very special light in all of our lives, a rare flower that we will never be able to replace. You will forever be missed but you'll never leave our hearts. "Death leaves a heartache no one can heal, love leaves a memory no one can steal." (Taken from a headstone in Ireland)