Thelma Joyce (Cormier) Kelley

Thelma Joyce Cormier Kelley was born on March 6, 1931 in Lafayette Parish, Louisiana and died peacefully in her sleep at home on March 30, 2025 in Gainesville, Cooke County, Texas at the age of 94 years. She professed a faith in Jesus Christ as Savior and helped in different churches over her lifetime, including being raised in the Catholic Church.

Services are under the direction of George J. Carroll and Son Funeral Home in Gainesville, Texas. The funeral will be held Saturday, April 5, 2025 at Temple Baptist Church, 1811 East California Street, Gainesville, Texas 76240 at 2:00 PM, with interment following at Fairview Cemetery, 710 Fair Avenue, Gainesville, Texas 76240 with Rev. Dr. Eddie Chennault officiating. The family will receive friends at Temple Baptist Church on Saturday, beginning at 1:00 PM.

Mrs. Kelley looked after her family and also was proficient and excelled in cooking, canning, cake decorating, sewing, gardening, painting artwork, and did income tax preparation for decades. She also organized church dinners for 15 years at First Assembly of God Church in Gainesville, Texas (now Real Life Church).

Mrs. Kelley is survived by her son and caregiver, Reverend Robert J. Kelley of Gainesville, Texas; her son, Byron (and wife, Alexis) Kelley of Era, Texas; many grandchildren, Erik (and wife Teresa) of Gainesville, Texas; Marcus Tankersley of Arkansas; Maria (and husband, James) Hillhouse of Oak Ridge, Texas; Priscilla (and husband, Steven Beach) Tankersley of Gainesville, Texas; an ex-granddaughter-in-law, Lugena Vislosky Kelley Balk Vislosky; great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren; nephews including a godson, cousins; a sister, Mrs. Geraldine Schexnayder of Iowa, Louisiana; and ex-daughter-in-law, Paula Wolski Kelley Larson of Fairbury, Nebraska.

Mrs. Kelley was preceded in death by her husband, Paul W. Kelley; her parents, Gaston and Agnes Cormier; a sister, Betty Richard; a grandson, Matthew Kelley; and great-grandson, Jared Fails.