Vera Smith Kelso

After living a life filled with love, generosity, compassion, faith and adventure, Vera Smith Kelso passed away on May 16, 2015 in Kingwood, Texas. She was born in Lake Providence, Louisiana, on August 13, 1934. She was preceded in death by her parents, Robert C. and Corene W. Smith and her husband of 47 years, John F. Kelso, Jr. Vera graduated from Ouachita Parish High School. As part of her many community activities in Monroe, she was a member of the Junior Charity League, Grace Episcopal Church vestry, Grace Episcopal School Board and the River Oaks School founding committee. She was active in the Grace Episcopal Church and St. Alban’s Episcopal Church Eucharistic Lay ministries, flower guilds and Daughters of the King. She was a P.E.O. member and served at the Monroe Soup Kitchen on DeSiard St. Vera and Johnny were members of the Monroe Road Runners jogging club. She competed in four Dallas White Rock marathons and once won first place in her age category. They also took part in numerous medical mission trips to Nicaragua and Honduras with Trinity Episcopal Church of New Orleans. They will both especially be remembered in north Louisiana for clothing generations of children at Kelso’s Children Shop. In 2008, Vera moved to Tyler, Texas. While living there, she continued her commitment to the Episcopal Church as a member of Christ Episcopal Church Eucharistic lay ministry and Daughters of the King. She also continued her membership in P.E.O. and was a sustaining member of the Tyler Junior Charity League.In addition to running, Vera’s hobbies included needlepoint, travelling, reading, mahjong and gardening. She will always be remembered by putting others’ needs before her own.Vera is survived by her aunt, Bobbie W. Smith; her brothers, R. C. Smith and his wife, Charlotte, and James E. Smith and his wife, Isabelle; her children, Georgia Price Beaty of Auburn, Alabama; Lisa Kelso LeBlanc and husband, Ted, of Kingwood, Texas; Nancy A. Kelso of Tyler, Texas, and John F. “Trey” Kelso III of Midlothian, VA; her grandchildren, Douglas Monroe Tinsley, Jr., Courtney Kelso Tinsley, Bailey Rose Finninger, Karley Corene Finninger, Price Alexandra Beaty, John Nolan Kelso and Matthew Grayson Kelso; a great grandchild, John Kelso “Jack” Tinsley and her cousins, nieces and nephews. Her family is deeply grateful for the outstanding care she was provided at M. D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas, by Dr. Michael Keating and his staff.Services will be held in Monroe, LA. Visitation will be held at St. Alban’s Episcopal Church on Thursday, May 28, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. A Celebration of New Life will be held at Grace Episcopal Church on Friday, May 29, at 10:00 a.m. It will be conducted by The Reverend Richard H. Norman, The Very Reverend Fred Robinson and The Reverend T. Whitfield Stodghill, III. Interment will follow at Mulhearn Memorial Park Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made to Grace Episcopal Church, St. Alban’s Episcopal Church, the charity of your choice or to the following Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia tax deductible research fund:CLL Global Research FoundationC/O Dr. Michael Keating, M.B. B. S.Unit 428P. O. Box 301402Houston, TX 77230-1402Online Registry/Condolences: www.mulhearnfuneralhome.comMulhearn Funeral HomeSterlington RoadMonroe, LA