MILDRED KELLY (REEVES) COLEY

On Saturday, July 17, 2021, Mildred Reeves Kelly Coley, age 90, gained her eternal wings. She was a resident of Victoria, Tennessee. She was a retired nurse previously employed by the state of Tennessee at Moccasin Bend. 
She is preceded in death by her 1st husband, Rixie Kelly; 2nd husband, Joseph Coley; parents, Malachi “Mack” & Kate Alley Reeves; son, Dana McCree Kelly; granddaughter, Robin Layne; siblings, Robert Reeves, Lillie McHone, Daisey King, William Reeves, Viola Condra, Archie Reeves, Vianna Powell & Fredell “Adam” Reeves & Richard "RB" Reeves.
Those left to cherish her memories are two daughters, Linda (Wayne) McCullough & Kathy Kay Kelly of South Carolina; grandson, Jared “Darr” (Angel) Kelly; great grandson, McCree Kelly of Jasper & daughter in law, Cherie Jordan of Whitwell.
Mildred was a lady of her word, full of strength & a hard worker. She was witty & always had not just a story, but the absolute best stories. To know her, was to love her. If you did know her, you knew her sense of humor & that makes you special. You could not be around her & not have a smile on your face. If you visited her home, you usually left with a full belly & sore cheeks from all the laughter which ensued while you were there.
She devoted her life to caring for her daughter, Kathy Kay Kelly. If you saw grandmother, Kathy was not too far away. It was only in the last 3 years, when she was no longer able to care for her, that she allowed them to be separated. No matter how old she got, she was always her baby. 
Her 90 years was not without the deepest heartbreak, but her Jared “Darr” Kelly helped save her from her greatest grief. They had a bond unlike any other grandmother or grandson. They were truly best friends from the moment she lost her son when Darr was 4 months old, until she took her last breath at 90 years old. He was her beacon of light here on this Earth. That light was passed to him when Dana was lost & on Saturday July 17, 2021, it was passed back to Dana when she went home to join him.
Another person in her life she could not have been prouder of was her great grandson, McCree Layne Kelly. She wished for him from the day Darr & Angel were married. Over 5 years later, her wish was granted & she was the first person in the family, besides them, to hold him. He could do no wrong in her eyes, just like his daddy. Most children are not blessed with such an opportunity to know their great grandmother like he had. Not only did he know her, he too shared a special bond with her for over 10 years.
While we are heartbroken, she is no longer here with us, we are thankful she is no longer suffering & she is reunited with her family again, especially Dana. She will be missed far more than could ever be put into words but the stories she told & the memories we made with her will live on with us forever. Thank you is just not enough to describe how much we appreciate all the time & love poured into our family & all the things she did for us through the years. Because we cannot describe everything in our hearts, for now, those words will have to suffice.
She was our grandmother & our anchor & now she is our Angel. We love you forever & always!
A letter from her grandson:
Heaven better be ready! Grandmother was the name I called her, but that name carried a meaning to those lives she touched. My friends who helped her throughout the years, she treated like grandchildren. Her kitchen was always open. I could call at 2 in the morning & tell her we were coming. All she would say is how many am I feeding? She was the first person to hold my son. She climbed mountains with me, crawled under beds to make construction plans on whatever wild idea I had. She would wake me up in the mornings for work by tickling my feet with a feather duster (I hated that). She would slip & cuss in front of her “grandchildren” & say, “Lord forgive me for cussing in front of these kids.” Words can’t express the love she gave to those important to her, nor the love she received from all of those she touched. She will be terribly missed. 
Family will receive friends 4:00-8:00 pm cst, Tuesday, July 20, 2021.
Funeral services will be 4:00 pm cst, Wednesday, July 21, 2021, in the funeral home chapel with Jayme Eggert officiating. Interment at Smith Cemetery.

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