Alita J. West Kelly

Alita June (West) Kelly was born December 6, 1949 in Manhattan, New York, to the union of Harold “Doc” West and Florence Alita Sharams. Later the family moved to Los Angeles in 1952. Alita attended many schools growing up to include; Inglewood Seventh Day Adventist School, Pasteur Jr. High, Mt. Vernon Jr. High, Foshay Jr. High, Los Angeles High School and graduated from Manual Arts High in January 1968 in California. Alita married Gerald Riley on December 4, 1967 and from this union Leonard Damon Riley was born. Alita later married Michael Kelly Sr. on December 26, 1970 and from this union they had three children; Givell, Charisse and Sean and Alita loving embraced four children from Michael’s previous marriage; Aleta, Dorran, Michael Jr. and Darryl. Alita later on attended Compton Community College and graduated with Honors receiving her degree in Associates of Arts in 1981. Her outstanding grades while at CCC earned her a lifetime membership in Alpha Gamma Sigma Scholarship Society. She also attended California State University at Dominguez Hills for a short time. Alita was also involved in the Our Lady of Mount Carmel Sodality, Rosary Makers, Needle Wielders, and a member of the Red Hat Society. Alita leaves behind to cherish her memory daughters Charisse Smith (Damon), Givell Moses (Andre); son Sean Kelly (Cindy); Granddaughters Amari Smith, Lasiyah Kelly and Shamere Moses; grandsons DeShaun Moses and Jeremiah Kelly; cousins Gladys Crittondon and Octoria Crockett; earth mother Edythe Rainer; earth daughters Aleta Kelly Small, Dorran Kelly Moultry, and Barbara Hall; and earth sons Darryl Kelly and Michael Kelly Jr. The family would like to extend a special thanks to the nurses and staff of Friendship Village Hospice for the loving care they gave to our mother in her last days. A visitation will be held Friday, February 11, 2011 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. with a Rosary at 7:00 p.m. at Carr Tenney Mortuary, 2621 South Rural Road, Tempe, Arizona 85282. Funeral Mass will be Saturday, February 12, 2011 at 11:00 a.m. at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Church, 2121 South Rural Road, Tempe, Arizona 85282. Graveside services will follow the funeral mass at Queen of Heaven Cemetery, 1562 East Baseline Road, Mesa, Arizona 85204.