Glenna Kelley

 

(From Parker Mortuary)

Glenna E. Kelley, age 90, passed away on October 2, 2021 in Joplin, Missouri. She was born January 3, 1931, in Quapaw, Oklahoma to the late John and Elizabeth Mae (Nonkessis) Ferris and was a member of the Ottawa Tribe of Oklahoma where she was given the tribal name, Wapa Keesuck, which is translated White Cloud. 

Her early years were spent on a farm north of Purcell, Missouri and she graduated from high school in Alba, Missouri. She worked at Bruce Williams Laboratory and as a bookkeeper at C.E. Reynolds Transport and Calcium Carbonate Company in Carthage. 

She was a long-time resident of Webb City, Missouri and recently of Joplin, Missouri. She also taught Sunday School at Royal Heights United Methodist Church.

Glenna is survived by two daughters, Glenna Bailey and Sherry Mayor, and one son, John Bailey and his wife, eight grandchildren, sixteen great-grandchildren, thirteen great-great-grandchildren, and her nephew, Courtney McDonald. She was preceded in death by twin daughters, Dorothy and Debra Bailey, who died soon after birth, her brother, Ray Edward Ferris, two sisters, Pauline Pittman and Shirley Scott, and one grandson, Chris Moore.

The family would like to thank Joplin Gardens for the loving care they provided Glenna during her last years.

Visitation will be held at Parker Mortuary on Tuesday, October 5, 2021 from 6-7:00 p.m. There will be a graveside burial service, officiated by Joe Morris, at Ozark Memorial Park Cemetery Wednesday, October 6, 2021 at 2:00 p.m.