Obituary: Sarah Grace Kelly Feb. 18, 1938 – Oct. 9, 2022

SARAH GRACE KELLY Feb. 18, 1938 – Oct. 9, 2022

Sarah Grace Kelly was born Feb. 18, 1938, in Jackson, MS to William and Hetty Combs. She grew up in the Mississippi Delta with her brother Billy Combs and sister Mary Kersey. 

Sarah Grace graduated from Ole Miss with a BA in Music, and continued at Ole Miss earning an MA in Music. She met her husband Bob Kelly at Ole Miss and they married in 1962.

Sarah Grace and Bob had three children: Katelyn, Frank, and Tara. As a family, they enjoyed traveling the US and Europe. Sarah Grace was known for enjoying many naps during these trips.

Sarah Grace was also an accomplished accompanist but found a career as a choir director at First Presbyterian Church in Oxford, MS and later with the United Methodist Church in Los Alamos, NM. She also played the piano at the United Church in Los Alamos. Sara Grace was also known by many as their piano teacher. Hundreds of young people practiced their scales and performed in recitals with Mrs. Kelly as their teacher. They all loved her chocolate chip brownies.

To say that Sarah Grace loved music is an understatement. She played in a jazz combo with her husband, up until the day Frank was born. In fact, she played a gig when two weeks overdue with Katelyn. She later played in a jazz combo in Santa Fe until her early 70’s.

Sarah Grace was also known for driving the coolest ride, a VW pop top camper bus! 

Sarah Grace died Oct. 9, 2022. In addition to her children she leaves her grandchildren Phaedra Lipinski (Ryan), Colden Palo (Alia), Lydia Orr and William Orr. Also, her son-in-law, Bill Orr, and daughter-in-law, Angela Kelly.

Sarah Grace was preceded in death by her parents, brother, sister, husband, and granddaughter, Mary Orr.  

Services will be at 2 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 12, 2022 at The United Church of Los Alamos. In lieu of flowers, the family request that donations be made to Self Help in Los Alamos, New Mexico.

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