Mrs Gwyn Carol Kelley's Obituary
Gwyn Carol Compton Kelley was born June 29, 1944. Gwyn left a legacy of faith, hope, and love that will continue to live on in her family. Gwyn was a staunch believer in miracles and fought the good fight until the very end. Gwyn was surrounded by her beloved husband, Mike, of 58 years, her devoted daughter, Erika, and her special needs grandson, Cole, as she left this world on Tuesday, May 16, 2023. Gwyn was raised in Dallas, TX, by her amazing parents, Roy and Ethilen Compton, who passed along their strong faith through service, mission, and God before self. Gwyn was a faithful member of Highland Park United Methodist Church, the Seekers Sunday School class, supporter of the Belong Disability Ministry, and a former Tower Arts Series board member. Gwyn grew up in Oak Lawn and attended Stephen Jay Hay Elementary, Rusk Junior High, and was a graduate of North Dallas High School, class of 1962. She loved being a North Dallas Bulldog, featured majorette, North Dallas “beauty”, and overall fun friend to Annette, Sue, Nancy, and Kenny.
Gwyn caught the eye of a very young, handsome boy, Michael C. Kelley, at the young age of eight when leaving Gingham Girls dance studio in 1952. Mike knew the moment Gwyn walked into his Uncle Robert’s grocery store she was going to be his wife. Gwyn wasn’t interested, as she liked older boys, but Mike knew in his heart, she was going to be his beloved wife at 8 years old!
As a graduate of SMU, Gwyn loved her Gamma Phi Beta sorority sisters at SMU, and graduated with dual degrees in Education and Spanish. Gwyn was a former Miss Dallas, featured majorette for the Mustang band, as well as the pro football team, Dallas Texans, before marrying the love of her life and high school sweetheart, Michael C. Kelley. Gwyn spent two years in Key West, Florida, as Mike was in the US Navy. Key West was “their place” and they loved spending time celebrating their anniversary in 2019.
Gwyn’s love of travel was passed down to her from her parents. Her very favorite trips were sharing special moments with her family in Disneyworld, Disneyland, San Diego, Key West, New York, Las Vegas, and all-time favorite, Galveston. Gwyn’s favorite moments always involved family. Gwyn relished in spending time with her special needs grandson, Cole. Her grandchildren, Dylan Kelley, Cole Warren, and Rylie Kelley were the apple of her eye! Gwyn was so fortunate to see Rylie and Cole right before her death. She loved talking to Dylan on the phone, and was so proud of ALL of her grandchildren. Gwyn was a teacher in Dallas ISD before becoming a stay-at-home mom. Gwyn’s dedication to education is the reason she loved being PTA President of Lakewood Elementary, and the leader of her daughter’s Camp Fire group, the Bluebirds. Gwyn’s greatest asset was her ability to multitask and volunteer for just about anything at her children’s schools, Lakewood, JL Long, and Woodrow Wilson High School.
Gwyn LOVED life. She loved and gave her family the greatest gift: unconditional love. Gwyn’s dedication to her strong faith is why she had such an incredible life. Her favorite organization was the Red Hat Society, as she created her own chapter, the W.O.M.B.A.T.s: Women Of Maturity, Breeding, and Taste. Gwyn will be sorely missed by her Red and Pink Sisters.
Gwyn is proceeded in death by her parents, Roy and Ethilen Compton, maternal aunt, Edith Roark, and cousin, Cleo Clayton. Gwyn is survived by her husband, Mike Kelley, son and daughter-in-law, Shawn and Haley Kelley, daughter and son-in-law, Erika and Charles Warren, grandchildren Dylan and Rylie Kelley, Cole Roy Warren, second cousin and husband, Kim and Doug Bohn.
Services will be held at Highland Park United Methodist Church, 3300 Mockingbird Lane Dallas, TX 75205, Wednesday, May 24th at 1 PM in the main sanctuary, with a reception to follow at HPUMC.
Visitation will be held on Tuesday, May 23rd, time 6 PM—8 PM, at Restland Funeral Home,
13005 Greenville Ave. Dallas, TX 75243. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Gwyn’s memory to the Barbara Hill Moore and Bruce Foote Memorial Scholarship Foundation, 3419 Westminster Avenue Suite 332G Dallas, TX 75205 and the Belong Disability Ministry at Highland Park United Methodist Church, 3300 Mockingbird Lane Dallas, TX 75205.
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