Shirley Ann (Polly) Kelley Howell

  Born June 22, 1943 in Coffee County, Ala., Shirley Ann (Polly) Kelley Howell went to her heavenly home Jan. 9, 2014 at Gainesville, Fla., following a brief illness. She is of Christian faith. Polly was a resident of Alachua County since moving from St. Petersburg 47 years ago.

Polly was a humble, feisty, fun-loving lady who was devoted to caring for countless nieces, nephews, grandchildren and children - related or not- who called her Mom, Nana, Big Nana or Aunt Polly. She was a band, rodeo and FFA mom for many years. She loved the outdoors and spent many summers on camping trips with family and friends. She was a beautiful woman who enjoyed doing crafts, listening to Conway Twitty, watching John Wayne movies, playing cards with her grandsons and watching baseball or other new-to-her activities. She had an awesome sense of humor and enjoyed making people smile.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Reba Inez Creech Kelley and John Robert Kelley; her devoted husband of 44 years, William E. Howell; four siblings and her grandson, Timothy Allen Parrish.

She is survived by two sons: John E. (Kay) Howell, High Springs; Jackie L. (Kim) Howell, Keystone Heights; one daughter, Judy Howell-Parrish, Ft. White; five brothers, James Kelley, Avon Park; John Kelley, Sebring; Jim Kelley, Lorton, Va.; Donnie Kelley, Avon Park; LeRoy Kelley, Frostproof; Billy Kelley, Perry and three sisters, Melba McCarty, Auburndale; and Angela Lineberger and Sue Gibson, Polk City. She is also survived by eight grandchildren: Sandy Parrish Richter, Terry (Boogie) Parrish, Ben Parrish, Kirstian Moates, Tommy Parrish; Casey, William and Caleb Howell, 19 great grandchildren and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

The family received friends at Evans-Carter Funeral Home, 220 North Main Street, High Springs, Florida, from 3 – 5 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 12. Services were conducted at 11 a.m., Monday, Jan. 13 at the First United Methodist Church of High Springs (17405 NW U.S. Highway 441) with Brother Chuck Weber officiating. Interment was at the High Springs Cemetery immediately following the service.