Rebecca Kelley
Rebecca Altice “Becky” Kelley died peacefully on January 3, 2026, at the age of 90.
Survived by her children, Jerry Kelley (Patty Givan), Michael Kelley (Kathy Kelley), Patricia Kelley Trail (Michael Trail), and Jeffrey Kelley (Shannon Kelley); grandchildren Ashley Karunaratne (Nilan Karunaratne), Andrew Kelley (Emily Rogers-Kelley), Megan Trevett (Joshua Trevett), Benjamin Kelley (Haleigh Kelley), Morgan Kelley, and Emily Kelley; great-grandchildren, Madison Karunaratne, Paige Karunaratne, Bryleigh Trevett, Olivia Karunaratne, Natalee Trevett, Charlotte Kelley, Hayden Kelley, and Katherine Ann Rogers-Kelley; along with cousins, nieces, and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Robert J. Kelley; parents, Herbert and Alta Altice, mother and father-in-law, Mary and Jesse Kelley; siblings and their spouses, Wallace and Ginny Altice, Barbara and Henry Witt, Alice and Bob Wirt; brothers-in-law and their spouses, Edward Kelley, Odell and Gloria Kelley, Bill and Mary Lu Kelley, Randolph and Patsy Kelley.
Becky was born on July 3, 1935, in Salem, Virginia. She graduated from Andrew Lewis High School in 1953. She met Bob Kelley while working at Tarpley’s in Salem. In 1952, she married Bob just two months after her graduation. Over the next few years, the couple welcomed four children into their home. Her children remember her as a strong woman who encouraged them to pursue their goals with a strong work ethic. She regularly sacrificed for her family; we were always her priority, and she often told folks how proud she was of her children.
She was a very good cook, and once the family loved a dish, she was not allowed to leave it off the Thanksgiving or Christmas menus! She often said most of what she learned about cooking was from her mother-in-law, Mary Rock Kelley. She was the go-to babysitter for her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, always happy, “at least we think so” to have the little ones at “Nannie’s house”. Christmas at Nannie and Pawpaw’s was always fun! She loved her brother, Wally, and sisters, Barbara and Alice, dearly, missing them so much after their passing.
She will be sorely missed and fondly remembered.
A funeral is scheduled for 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, January 13, 2026, at John M. Oakey & Son Funeral Home in Salem, Va. Visitation will be held an hour before the service. All are welcome to attend and celebrate Becky’s life. The family would like to thank the staff at Woodland Hills Memory Care Center and Good Samaritan Hospice for their care and compassion.
Online Condolences may be expressed by visiting www.johnmoakey.com.
