Nina M Kelly

Nina May Burk Kelly, 94 years young, passed away peacefully at home with her family Thursday evening, March 18, 2021 in Cedar Hills, Utah.

Nina was born on July 27, 1926 in Eager, Arizona and grew up in nearby Nutrioso, the last of seven children of Asahel and Maggie (Nielsen) Burk. At a young age she was taught poetry on her father’s knee and was often the little girl invited to speak the pieces at community and family gatherings. This launched her love of poetry that decorated her whole life. She wrote over 400 poems and her recitations captivated listeners of all ages.

Her mother died when she was 12 years old. After 6 hard, lonely years on the ranch she went to live with her sister in California, where she helped prepare emergency supply pouches for parachutists in World War II. She graduated in English and Social Science from Eastern Arizona College. There she met her sweetheart, Reef Kelly, a recently returned Sailor from the Pacific Theatre of the war. They married in 1946, built 2 successful retail businesses and had 6 children. They lived in Safford, Arizona for 10 years, then in Flagstaff, Arizona for 55 years. They moved to Cedar Hills, Utah in 2011.

Nina loved to work with people in a common cause. Her many years of civic involvement included serving on the boards of Womens League, PTA, Republican Women, and the Flagstaff Town Council.

Nina was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and was passionate about the teachings of Jesus Christ. She held numerous callings in the Church. She loved genealogy and wrote and published 5 books of family histories. She and her husband served in the Boston, Massachusetts Mission of the Church where she wrote and published the mission history. One of her happiest memories was thirteen years of service with her husband, in the Snowflake and Mesa temples of the Church.

She had a beautiful voice and all her life she enjoyed singing with friends and family for special occasions.

Nina was a very good cook and seamstress. She loved growing things and tending to them especially plants, animals, ideas and children. She loved life!

Nina loved the mountains, camping, traveling, fishing, hunting, boating, and most of all planning group gatherings. She always had a celebration in mind and the energy to make it happen.

Because she was a caring friend to all, Nina touched countless lives. She will truly be missed.

Nina is preceded in death by her mother and father, siblings (sister Eunice Allred and brothers Karl, Ernest, Lot, Grant, and Joe Burk), and her children Douglas and Joan.

She is survived by Reef Percy Kelly, her husband of 75 years, and by her children Joyce Erickson (husband Erick), Dennis (wife Holly Rogers), Jennifer Dean (husband Ron), and Shane (wife Bernadette Canlas), 22 grandchildren and 45 great grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 am on Monday, March 29, 2021 at the Cedar Hills West Stake Center Chapel, 4580 West Cedar Hills Drive, Cedar Hills, Utah. Family and friends may call on Sunday, March 28, 2021 from 6:00 to 8:00 pm at the Warenski Funeral Home, 1776 North 900 East, American Fork, Utah, and again on Monday morning from 9:30 to 10:30 am at the church prior to services. Interment will be at the American Fork City Cemetery following the services. Protective masks are mandatory at all times at the viewings and funeral. Livestream of the funeral will be available at the following link:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=PMdqors89UE&list=PLQATCjC1BqF4x5PZl3zDMIL6uE-4mSao8&index=1

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