Miriam Gladys Kelly

Miriam Gladys (Olson) Kelly, 81 died on November 30th, 2023 after a long period of suffering from dementia, at Blossom Creek Memory Care in Wenatchee. As a little girl in the second grade, she accepted Jesus into her life. After a wonderful Christian life, she is now peacefully resting in heaven with him. She was born December 9th, 1941 (two days after Pearl Harbor) to Herman Lewis Olson Sr and Mary Gladys (Redding) Olsen in Wenatchee. She graduated from Wenatchee High School, class of 1960. Then she attended Wenatchee Valley College and later graduated with a BA from Seattle Pacific College in 1964. She later attended Central Washington State College in Ellensburg, graduating with a master's in education degree in 1972. She taught both Kindergarten and 2nd grade in the Eastmont, Moses Lake, and Wenatchee school districts for a total of 30 years.
Miriam is best known as a professional harpist musically active for 30 years in Wenatchee, Manson, Cashmere, and Leavenworth. She played over 150 weddings, receptions, and funerals in Washington and Oregon. Also, she played at various services and numerous area churches. In addition, she played weekends for 13 years at Cafe Mozart in Leavenworth, five years at the Pewter Pot (now closed) in Cashmere, and four years on weekday evenings at the Wapato Point restaurant in Manson. She sold many copies of her three solo harp CDs to eager listeners throughout North Central Washington.
Miriam's Harp highlights include: playing at the wedding of her many nieces and nephews, playing at a wedding reception while cruising on a ship on Lake Chelan, playing over 20 outdoor weddings, and all kinds of weather from rain to blazing sunshine. Once in Blarney Ireland, she was asked to play a harp provided by an Irish harpist to entertain people as they walked to the castle to kiss the Blarney Stone!! She played for half an hour to the delight of many international visitors. Her husband Glenn will share more harp stories as her remembrance services are to be held at a later date.
In 1966, she married a fellow teacher, musician Glenn Kelly. They enjoyed working with many high school students and youth groups in the Moses Lake and the Wenatchee Free Methodist churches. They traveled together to Europe in numerous summers studying music and visiting memorable cities like Dublin, London, Edinburgh, Vienna, Venice, Rome, and Paris. Glenn and Miriam also served for serveral years as King and Queen of the Wenatchee Valley Senior Activity Center.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by a brother-in-law, Rev Jack Delamarter (Salem OR), and Forrest Kelly (Battle Ground, Washington). She is survived by her husband of 56 years, Glenn, and sisters, Verma (Fisher) Delamarter (Salem OR), Joyce and John Price (Mercer Island), Carol and Robert Dick Esq. (Gig Harbor). Brother Lewis Olsen Jr and wife Janet (Wenatchee) and sister-in-law Ruby Kelly (Battle Ground, Washington). Also, thirteen nieces and nephews and many grand and great-grand nieces and nephews. Glenn and Miriam had no children.
Two services of remembrance for Miriam will be held in both Wenatchee and Vancouver, Washington they will be held in early spring 2024. Dates, times and locations have yet to be set. Once determined they will be announced to the public. Those who wish to remember Miriam may make gifts in her memory to the Wenatchee Valley Symphony and or the Leavenworth Summer Theater. Her husband and family want to especially thank Wenatchee Hospice and the entire staff at Blossom Creek Care Facility's for their special care for her these past four years! Arrangements are in the care of Heri