Kelley, Mary Ann (Smith)

Age 84, of Maple Grove, passed away unexpectedly and peacefully in her sleep on September 28, 2026, at the Minnesota Masonic Home in Bloomington.

She was born on March 19, 1942, in St. Louis, Missouri, to Arthur and Anna Smith.

In the summer of 1957, at just 15 years old, she met the love of her life, Orville, at a drive-in movie theater. Their young romance was interrupted when Orville joined the United States Marine Corps. While he was away, she sent him a “Dear John” letter, and for a time, life took them in separate directions. A couple of years later, Orville managed to find her phone number and called her. That one phone call brought them back together, and it quickly became clear that the love they had shared as teenagers had never truly disappeared. Just one month after reuniting, they were married on June 30, 1962. Together, she and Orville went on to share 64 years of marriage, building a life centered around love, family, and devotion to one another. They raised three children and later found so much joy in helping care for and raise their grandchildren.

Throughout much of her life, she worked overnight as a Certified Nursing Assistant in nursing homes while also caring for her own family and home. Caring for others came naturally to her. She gave so much of herself to the people around her, both in her work and in her family life. She later worked as a receptionist at Marquette Bank in Golden Valley, a job she truly loved. She especially enjoyed greeting people as they walked through the doors and making them feel welcome.

During the 1990s, she was a member of the Robbinsdale Eastern Star.

In recent years, she and Orville made their home at the Minnesota Masonic Home. Some of the simplest moments became some of the sweetest. She loved sitting outside each day beside Orville, enjoying the fresh air, watching people come and go, and greeting visitors with a “HI”. Those quiet moments together reflected the kind of life they had built over more than six decades—side by side.

Above all else, she loved her family deeply. Her children and grandchildren always knew how much they meant to her. She was proud of them, cared about the details of their lives, and treasured the time they shared together. To her children and grandchildren, she was more than a mother and grandmother—she was a steady presence, a source of comfort, and an important part of the memories that shaped their lives.

One of the most precious moments in her final week was seeing her newborn great-grandson, Hudson, over FaceTime. Although she was not able to hold him in her arms, the happiness on her face and the immense joy she felt seeing the newest member of her family meant so much to everyone who witnessed it. It is especially comforting to her family to know that she had the opportunity to see him before she passed, creating one more beautiful memory they will always hold close.

Her family will remember her in countless ways—in the love she had for Orville, in the care she gave to her children and grandchildren, in her warm greetings, in the familiar conversations, and in the ordinary moments that now feel anything but ordinary. Her presence was woven into the everyday lives of the people who loved her, and her absence will be felt deeply.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Arthur and Anna; her sister, Francis; her brother, Jimmy; her mother- and father-in-law, Jewell Grace and Orville Kelley; her brother-in-law, DeWayne; her sister-in-law, Linda Kelley; and many other relatives.

She is survived by her beloved husband of 64 years, Orville; her children, Kimberly Cain of Mora, Patrick (Jill) of Shakopee, and Amy Rascher (Paul) of Inver Grove Heights; her grandchildren, Amy Elizabeth, Timothy, Jenna, and Elizabeth; her great-grandson, Hudson, who was just one week old at the time of her passing; her brothers, Arthur, Tommy, and Timothy; her sisters, Carolyn and Tina; her sister-in-law, Debra Hall (Michael) of Minneapolis; and many other relatives and dear friends who will miss her deeply.

A service honoring her life will be held at the Minnesota Masonic Home, 11411 Masonic Home Drive, Bloomington, MN 55437, on Monday, October 12, 2026, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Minnesota Masonic Charities or to a charity of the donor’s choice.

Her life was a life of love, family, and devotion. From the teenage girl who met Orville at a drive-in movie theater, to the young woman whose path found its way back to his, to the wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother she became, her greatest joy was always found in the people she loved. Their story is a reminder that sometimes love finds its way back when it is meant to. After 64 years of marriage and a lifetime of memories, the love she gave will continue to live on through her family and through the stories they will carry with them for generations.