CECELIA RICE KELLY died Saturday at her home on North Braeswood in Houston with members of her large family near her. She was born in San Antonio March 12, 1909, to Hugh Bernard Rice and Katherine Elizabeth Tynan Rice, descendants of early Irish settlers. After graduating from the Ursuline Academy, she taught in San Antonio schools while earning her BA from Incarnate Word College and her MA from the University of Texas in 1933. While teaching at Randolph Field, she met Thomas Philip Kelly, the Southern Pacific's agency manager. Married in 1935, the couple moved each time he was promoted: Fort Worth, Austin, Victoria and finally Houston, where they settled on Brompton Road in West University in 1947. They joined Saint Vincent de Paul Parish, where all of her seven children attended school and where she founded the school library. She was active in church and school fundraising and as a member of the Legion of Mary. Cecelia resumed her teaching career after her youngest child started school. She taught at Oak Forest and Shearn Elementary, from which she retired in 1973. Teaching children with reading problems was her joy and special talent. She is survived by her children, Col. Thomas Philip Kelly, Jr. and wife Joyce, Santa Rosa, Calif.; Dr. Katherine Kelly Montgomery and husband William, North Adams, Mass.; Mary Kelly Pauwels and husband Michael, Austin; and by William B. Kelly and wife Casey. Hugh Rice Kelly and wife Molly, Pete Kelly, and James Tynan Kelly and wife Lynn, all of Houston. Cecelia is also survived by her grandchildren, Thomas Phillip Kelly III of Santa Rosa, Calif.; John Kelly and wife Gianna of Sonoma, Calif.; Celia Annette Montgomery and David Montgomery of New York City; William Elliott Kelly and wife Rhiwena of Tucson, Ariz.; Hugh Gerard Pauwels of Austin; and by Heather Kelly Trachtenberg and husband Brian, Tynan Peter Kelly, Shane Kelly and Raygan Kelly, Susan McIntosh Kelly and Cecilia Rice Kelly, and Margaret Lynn Kelly and William Tynan Kelly, and by one great-grandchild, Miles Kelly Trachtenberg, all of Houston. Cecelia was preceded in death by her beloved husband; her sisters Bernardine and Shevaun Rice of San Antonio; and by Pete's wife, Lee S. Kelly. Her beloved home caretakers, Bessie Semien Morgan, Mary Alice Ned, Dorothy Richard, and Mary Witherspoon made her final years comfortable and secure. The visitation will be on Tuesday, March 14, from 6 to 8 p.m., followed by a rosary recited 8:00 p.m. at Earthman's Funeral Home, 2420 Fannin. The funeral Mass will be celebrated at 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday at St. Vincent de Paul Church, 6800 Buffalo Speedway followed by a reception at Mrs. Kelly's home. A family burial service will be conducted on Thursday morning at Forest Park Westheimer Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to: Including Kids, Inc. 5350 Fm. 1960 East. Humble, Tx. 77346, a school for Autistic children.

Houston Chronicle Mar. 13-14, 2006