KELLY, Katherine (Kathy) Leigh

The Daily Courier, Prescott, Arizona, Wednesday, February 04, 2015 Katherine Leigh Kelly, Sergeant Major United States Army (retired), passed away on Jan. 28, 2015, at the VA Hospice in Pres-cott, Arizona. She was born Oct. 16, 1956, in Muenchweiler, Germany, as the first child of Robert F. and Jacqueline J. Kelly. Kathy graduated from Buena High School in Sierra Vista, Arizona, in 1974 and earned a bachelor's degree from Northern Arizona University before enlisting in the Army as a linguist in 1978. She trained in both Chinese and Russian at the Defense Language Institute in Monterey, California, and served in units stateside, in Europe and in Hawaii. She participated in the ground campaign during Operation Desert Storm and the international stabilization effort in Sarajevo during the 1990s, retiring as the Provost Sergeant Major at Defense Language Institute in 2004. Kathy moved to Prescott, Arizona, after retirement. She worshipped, sang and served in several capacities at St. Luke's Episcopal Church and volunteered at the Prescott Library. Beyond her lifelong love of language, religion, music and books, she expanded her interests to include fiber and visual arts. She was active in the Prescott Art Docents and the Mountain Spinners and Weavers Guild, giving art presentations to children and weaving and spinning demonstrations at Sharlot Hall Museum and other venues. A memorial service will be 1 p.m. Monday, Feb. 9, 2015, at St. Luke's Episcopal Church. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Prescott Art Docents or the Friends of the Prescott Library. Information provided by survivors.