Gloria Jones Kelley died peacefully at her home in Geneseo, New York, on December 24, 2025, surrounded by her loving family at age 98.

Gloria was born in Millinocket, Maine, the daughter of Roy L. Jones and his wife, Theophilia C. Wirpsha. Her formative years were spent in New England where she developed the distinctive accent which never left her. She attended schools in Vermont and New Hampshire before graduating from the Springfield Classical High School in Massachusetts. In 1946, she met John Edward Kelley of Malone, New York, and they were married in Burington, Vermont, in November of 1947, eventually returning to John's hometown of Malone. They were married for 63 years until John's death in 2011.

After dedicating her first years of marriage to raising her family, Gloria discovered an entrepreneurial spirit and interest in business, purchasing a local tax accounting business and invited her father to join her in the firm which became Kelley and Jones. That business continued until both Gloria and her father retired after more than 25 years together.

Bridge was an important part of Gloria's life, including her founding membership in the "Best Bridge Club" in Malone in the mid-1950's which included many of her dearest friends over many decades. Members of the Group played bridge together until 2020; Gloria was the last surviving member of the Group. Not content to only play traditional bridge; Gloria was an award winning duplicate bridge player traveling throughout the North Country of New York. She was also a skier and longtime member of the Malone Golf Club. In her 20's she fought to make schoolbooks more affordable and was still socially conscious as she and joined a March Against Gun Violence when she was 94.

John and Gloria spent much of each year in Florida, early on the west coast and for the last 25 years+ on or near Cocoa Beach. As a couple, they loved travel, both in the USA (where they enjoyed several courses offered by ElderHostel) as well as to their daughter and son-in-law' s home in the Cayman Islands and in western Europe. After John's death, Gloria continued to travel with her children and grandchildren, up and down the Eastern Seaboard, to South Dakota and to the UK; her most recent visit to England, traveling solo, was when she was 96.

In 2020, she decided to sell the family home and move to Geneseo to be closer to her daughter, Christine Beard and her husband, Rick. The move was perfect for her. In Malone, Gloria had been a stalwart member of St. Mark's Episcopal Church, serving for many years as Treasurer, thus it was a natural move to St. Michael's Episcopal Church in Geneseo which she came to dearly love and was welcomed into that church family. She loved the Valley and almost never went down North Street or up the Avon Road without exclaiming on the beauty of the countryside. She was overwhelmingly happy in her new home.

Gloria was predeceased by her parents and her husband as well as two sisters and their husbands: Elaine and Lawrence Lumbra and Phyllis and Ray Thorsen and brother-in-law, Arthur Arcand. She is survived by her sister, Roberta Jones Arcand of Luray, Virginia, as well as her two children, daughter Dr. Christine K. (Richard) Beard of Geneseo, son Leslie G. (Elizabeth Zieglmeier) Kelley of Wrightsville, Pennsylvania and three grandchildren: Morgan (Ashley) Beard and their son, Alexander, of York, England, Sean L. Kelley and Caroline J. Kelley, both of Leesburg, Virginia; step-granddaughter, Katherine Landau (Sean Bond) and their son, Kieran, of Croton-on-Hudson, New York. She is also survived by two nieces, two nephews and their families.

Gloria was remarkably bright, had a superb command of the English language and was well-known and highly regarded for her frankness and her wit.

A memorial service for Gloria Jones Kelley will be held at St. Michael's Church in Geneseo, New York at 11 AM on Monday, the 29th of December with the Rt. Reverend Dr. Michael Laver officiating with a reception immediately following the ceremony in the undercroft of the Church. Burial will be held at a later date at Morningside Cemetery in Malone.

In lieu of flowers, contributions to St. Michael's Church, 23 Main St., Geneseo, NY 14454 or to St. Mark's Church, 34 Elm St., Malone, NY 12953 or to a charity of your choice would be gratefully appreciated.