Jewell Evans Kelly was born October 30, 1933 in Bixby, OK to Willis “Chief” Evans and Helen Gatlin-Evans. She joined her late husband, Solomon A. Kelly, to be with the Lord in Sapulpa on Friday, September 14, 2018 at the age of 84.
She graduated Glenpool High School in 1952. She played softball, basketball, and ran track, but also continued softball tournaments throughout her life in the Native American Leagues throughout Oklahoma with Solomon.
Jewell’s great love was music. She played guitar, bass, and fiddle from a youth up until the last few years of her life.
Jewell is survived by her son, Barton Kelly and his wife Kellie of Oklahoma City; daughter Kathy Irwin and her husband Robert of Sapulpa; two brothers, George Evans and Loren Evans of Sapulpa; 7 grandchildren: Daniel Kelly and his wife Kristin, their children, Kendra, Ashlynn, Gabriel and Malachi of Beggs, Michael Kelly and his wife Amanda and daughter Avery of Collinsville, Samantha Rankin and her husband Christopher and son July of Osage, Mitchell Devin and his son Hudson of Tulsa, Caleb Irwin and Eric Irwin of Sapulpa, and Cheyenne Kelly of Oklahoma City.
During her lifetime, the most important thing in Mom’s life was her faith. Faith in Christ and her family. She was always checking on people and concerned with their wellbeing. Any opportunity she could, she loved going to church. She loved listening to Elvis, gospel, and country music. In her career, she was a nurse’s aide and she worked for various nursing homes. She also worked at Hillcrest. She finally retired in 1999 from Goodwill as a Donation Attendant.
She will be interred at New Town Indian Methodist Church in a private ceremony for close friends and family to be followed by a celebration of her life that will be open to the public. The date will be disclosed at a later time.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Smith Funeral Home, 1208 S Main St, Sapulpa, OK.
