Mary Alice Kelly, 99
Mary Alice Kelly of Acton died June 22, 2026, at age 99, three weeks before her 100th birthday.
Mary Alice was the loving mother of Steven Kelly of Acton, Diana Kelly of Acton, Brian Kelly and his wife Kathy of Reading, and of the late Kathy Kelly of Riverside, California, Craig W. Kelly, and David Kelly, who is survived by his wife Debra, both of Warwick. In addition to three children, she is also survived by seven grandchildren: Kevin Shoemaker and his husband Michael, Julie Shoemaker and her husband Ben, Adam Shoemaker and his wife Alli, Craig Kelly, Tara Murphy and her husband Andrew, Tom Kelly and his wife Laura, and Ian Kelly. She is survived also by three great-grandchildren: Gregory and Laurel Urquhart and Torran Kelly.
Mary Alice grew up in Pasadena, California, daughter to Alice Sunderland Davis and Lee S. Davis, and was the eldest of three sisters. She did well in school and attended Scripps College, where she pursued a degree in psychology, although a bout of rheumatic fever caused her to leave prior to graduation. However, during this time she also met Thomas Kelly, a young man unlike any she had met before, who was pursuing a degree at California Institute of Technology. They were married for 33 years before he passed away in 1982, and she did not remarry.
Mary Alice and her husband moved frequently in their early married life, moving between Navy bases before settling in Lexington to raise their family while her husband worked at Hanscom Air Force Base as director of the balloons and rockets division of the Air Force Cambridge Research Lab. Their children all attended Lexington High School. Mary Alice worked tirelessly to provide a clean and orderly house and homemade meals.
Mary Alice loved to travel and, whether with friends or family, she visited many fascinating places including Alaska, Scandinavia, and England, but her favorite trip was a safari in Kenya, which she talked about throughout her long life. Having always had a competitive spirit, she played tennis until her late 70s, using an unusual backhand that could bewilder even her most experienced opponents. She also volunteered at Emerson Hospital in the transport department, where she contributed her time for over 30 years.
As her health began to pose more challenges, more people came into her life, working together with her daughter, Diana, who served as her primary caregiver and constant companion. The most important of this community were Aisha, Purity, and Jeannette, who helped to make her last years of life joyful and interesting, as well as possible.
Private funeral services were held on Friday, June 26, 2026, at Dee Funeral Home in Acton, followed by burial at Westview Cemetery, Lexington. A celebration of her life will be planned for a future date.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Mary Alice’s memory can be made to either St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or Mass Eye and Ear.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Dee Funeral Home & Cremation Service of Acton. To share a memory or a condolence on Mary Alice’s tribute page, visit DeeFuneralHome.com.
