Melody Ann Kelley, age 57, of Olathe, passed away peacefully Saturday evening, June 14, 2025, under care of KU hospice, after a long battle with cancer. She was born on December 19, 1967, in Oakes, ND, a daughter of Darrell Hill and Myrna Ferm.
Melody was a member of Westside Church of the Nazarene. She grew up in Oakes, ND, where she spent many of her days getting into mischief with her siblings. She met her husband Darrell in college at Mid-America Nazarene College through mutual friends, and through the care she took of Darrell when he was ill, the two became intertwined souls. Melody and Darrell got married in 1988, and by 1994 had decided to start their family, with their oldest son Jackson’s birth. Dylan was born only a year and a half later in 1996, with their daughter Darby, taking her time and arriving in 2007. Melody raised her kids, along with Darrell to cherish family, and even with the large age gap, all three are very close. She worked a majority of her career at Little Treasures Learning Center, where she taught and cared for Children of Christ for over 20 years. She ended her career working at Family Eye Care in Olathe, where she helped patients by performing secretarial and lab tech duties for the doctors. Melody loved to host guests and make treats and desserts frequently for those friends and family who visited. She enjoyed spending time out in nature at her family cabin in Wisconsin, and enjoyed being outside, where she could commonly be found lounging on the back porch.
Melody is survived by her husband, Darrell Kelley of Olathe; two sons, one daughter and one future daughter-in-law, Jackson Kelley and Saraya Bragg of Wichita, and Dylan Kelley and Darby Kelley of Olathe. She is also survived by her mother and stepfather, Myrna Ferm and Gerald Ferm of Oakes, ND; three brothers Mike Hill of Eureka, MO, Matt Hill, and Jeremy Hill of Oakes, ND; and two sisters, Cyndi Furlong of Cambridge, MN, and Holly Brems of Overland Park. Melody also leaves many other family members and friends who will treasure her memory and mourn her loss.
She was preceded in death by her father, Darrell Hill of Oakes.
The family will receive guests for a visitation from 1:00-2:30pm on Saturday, June 21, 2025, at Westside Church of The Nazarene in Olathe, with her Funeral Service following at 2:30pm, officiated by Pastor Dave Shore. Burial will be at Oak Lawn Memorial Gardens in Olathe.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions in Melody’s memory be made to Crestview Cabin fund, so that she may continue to pour her love into her cabin that she spent many fond years fixing up and maintaining for her family and extended family. Reach out to the family for details.
To leave a special message for her family or to share a memory of Melody, please visit the guestbook below.
Saturday, June 21, 2025
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Westside Church of the Nazarene
Saturday, June 21, 2025
Starts at 2:30 pm (Central time)
Westside Church of the Nazarene
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