Mrs. Kelly Elizabeth Gray Keesling

Kelly Keesling, 51, of Charlotte NC passed away on May 30 after a courageous 3-year battle with Stage IV lung cancer. Kelly was an inspiration for her faith, strength, and cancer advocacy. She will be missed by everyone who knew her.

Kelly was born on Fort Belvoir Army Base, Virginia, on March 17, 1968. She graduated from Hayfield High School in Alexandria in 1986, earned her bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from Virginia Tech in 1990, and went on to become a licensed Professional Engineer. She married the love of her life, Tim Keesling, with whom she has two children, Ashley (25) and Stephen (23). Being a mom was Kelly’s greatest joy and nothing made her more proud than her two kids. After having kids, Kelly worked as a Communications Director at St. Stephen United Methodist Church and Christ Covenant Church.

Kelly loved working with the youth at St. Stephen, hanging out at her beach house, making lists, sitting in her sunroom, playing board games and doing puzzles, chatting with her book club, singing 80s love songs, taking evening strolls, spending girl time with her nieces Molly and Casey, and playing with her dogs. Kelly’s favorite flowers were daisies, favorite colors were maroon and orange (go Hokies!), and had the world’s largest private collection of shoes.

Kelly is survived by her loving husband, Tim; children, Ashley and Stephen; parents, Fred and Thalia Gray; sister, Tracy Delahunt; brother, Peter Gray; nephew, Griffin Keesling; and nieces, Molly Keesling, Casey Delahunt and Abby Schofield.

Kelly was a fighter, advocate and voice for Lung Cancer awareness. Consider donating in Kelly’s honor to GO2 Foundation for Lung Cancer, through http://www.supportalcf.org/ros1/sunshinekk.

The family will receive friends from 6:30 pm until 9:00 pm Friday evening, June 7, at McEwen Funeral Service, Mint Hill Chapel, 7428 Matthews-Mint Hill Road in Mint Hill, North Carolina. A service to celebrate Kelly’s life will be held 4:00 pm Saturday afternoon, June 8, at St. Stephen United Methodist Church, 6800 Sardis Road in Charlotte, North Carolina. The Reverend Ken Curtis will officiate. A Reception will be held immediately after the Service in the Youth Ministry Center.