Eunice L. Kelley

Funeral services for Eunice L. Kelley, 87, of Junction City will be held 2 p.m., Saturday, September 29, 2007 at the Episcopal Church of the Covenant, 314 N. Adams, Junction City, KS with Father Dale Plummer officiating. Burial will follow at Highland Cemetery. Visitation will be Friday, September 28, 2007, 6-8 p.m. at Penwell-Gabel Mass-Hinitt Chapel, 805 Caroline Avenue, Junction City, KS. Mrs. Kelley passed away September 25, 2007 at Chapman Valley Manor. Memorial contributions may be given to the American Cancer Society, Heartland Division, 1100 Pennsylvania Avenue, Kansas City, MO 64105, and/or Chapman Valley Manor, 1009 N. Marshall, Chapman, KS 67431 and/or Friends of Animals, P.O. Box 580, Junction City, KS 66441.

Mrs. Kelley was born November 7, 1919 at McPherson, KS to William and Sybil (Warner) Lovett. She was a graduate of the University of Kansas where she received a bachelor's degree in business with a major in accounting. She and former husband Clayton Phillipi founded and operated the Jack and Jill's retail clothing store that was the largest retail clothing store in the state of Kansas in the 1950's, this store later became the Pacesetter and the Klothes Kloset which catered to women and children.

Mrs. Kelley made history in 1977 when she was the first woman ever elected to the city commission and history was made again in 1982 when she was unanimously elected the first woman to serve as the Mayor of Junction City and served as Vice-Mayor three times. She served on the city commission until the early 90's and was a strong advocate for getting a city-sponsored recreation program off the ground. Mrs. Kelley was installed as President of the Fourth District Kansas Federation of Women's Clubs in 1961. She was the first President and Chapter Founder of the Geary Community Hospital Auxiliary. She served as secretary, vice president and president of the Ladies Reading Club. She served on the Armed Services YMCA Board and was selected as the Volunteer of the Year in 1986 by that board. She served on the Little Theater Board and was a former member of the trustees and board of directors of the Geary County Historical Society, the George Smith Public Library Board, Geary Community Health Care Foundation Board and the American Society of University Women.

She was an avid KU fan and followed many sports locally and nationally. She especially enjoyed cheering for Marysville when her granddaughters played basketball for them, then cheering for Chapman in which her grandsons played basketball and football. She attended her grandchildren's games as often as she could. She also enjoyed her numerous bridge clubs that she was involved in over many years and her friendships with the bridge ladies.

She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law; Barbara and Brandt Bish of Junction City, son and daughter-in-law; Bill and Vickie Phillipi of Marysville, KS, son; Robert Phillipi of Wichita, KS, step-children; Tim Kelley, Patrick Kelley and Nora Megan Lane, one brother; Roger Lovett of Topeka, KS, eight grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents and husbands; Clayton Phillipi, William Lesser and William Kelley.

Mrs. Kelley's grandchildren, David Small, Danny Small, Dustin Small, Jennifer Bussmann, Janelle Price and Jill Graff will serve as pallbearers.

Organist will be Florence Whitebread and Vocalist will be Susan O'Brien