Obituary of Iris McKellips

Iris Ann McKellips, 89, passed away on Easter Sunday, April 24th, 2011 surrounded by her family. Iris was born March 24, 1922 in Kit Carson County in a ranch home to the late August and Ila Kern. The family homesteaded in Cheyenne County when Iris was very young. From that point on she was a dedicated resident of Cheyenne County. She was the third of eight children. On February 24th, 1941 Iris married Ralph “Bud” McKellips. Iris was a member of the first graduating class of Cheyenne County High School in 1940 and in 1986 she was the principal organizer of the all school reunion of Cheyenne Wells High School. She was employed for many years at St. Joseph’s Hospital of the Plains now known as Keefe Memorial Hospital, starting out as a nursing assistant and working her way up to a pharmaceutical agent. Iris was a devoted life long member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church where she received all of her Sacraments. She served on the Altar Society and many church related committees. She was also an avid supporter of education. Iris was a woman of many interests including ceramics, quilting, crocheting, bridge, Red Hats and gardening. Iris arguably had the best garden in Cheyenne Wells and she was always willing to share her flowers with others. But closest to her heart was her beloved family. Iris is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Gloria and Russ Cain; daughter and son-in-law, Sharon and Mark Miller: daughter and son-in-law, Inis and Pete Reardon; daughter and son-in-law, Marla and Jeff Talmadge; daughter and son-in-law, Marty and Vern Unruh; 12 grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren with 3 more on the way. Her sisters, Christine, Virginia and her loving companion Sadie Bell also survive her. Iris was preceded in death by her husband Bud; 2 grandchildren, Holly and Eric; siblings Helen, Bill, Josephine, Pete and Baby Kern. Family was the center of Iris’s life. She was a supportive mother and grandmother following any event of her girls and their children. She was a woman of integrity and the family Matriarch. Her greatest joy was sponsoring the family reunions that were held every 2 years in the Rocky Mountains. It was there that life long memories were made. Her life was centered on Faith, Family and Friends!