Becky Diane Kelly

CEDAR — Becky Diane Kelly, 61, of Cedar, passed away on Aug. 6, 2014. Becky was born Sept. 9, 1952, in Fremont, to the late Harvey W. and Phyllis B. (Gleason) Kelly. She spent her early childhood living in White Cloud, Newaygo and Fairless Hills, Pennsylvania; then in 1960 her family moved to Cadillac.

Becky graduated from Cadillac High School in 1970. Becky was always an independent thinker and stood by her convictions. While in high school she helped spearhead a petition drive and rally to allow girls to wear slacks and jeans to school. The dress code was forever changed. The summers of 1968 and 1969 Becky won a scholarship to study art at the University of Kansas, in Lawrence, Kansas. In 1972 she received her associate's degree from Northwestern Michigan College in Traverse City and in 1974 she went on to receive her bachelor's degree from Michigan State University.

Becky was always a talented artist and designed the commemorative envelope honoring former President Gerald R. Ford's visit at the 1975 Cherry Festival.
In 1974 she returned to Traverse City and started her lifelong career in the banking industry. She worked at Empire State Bank for 10 years before moving to Chicago, where she worked for the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago and the comptrollers office.

Becky was fiercely independent and a hard worker who enjoyed the fruits of her labor. She was a creative and talented artist and loved to work in all mediums including watercolor, acrylics and oils. She was also admired for her graphic art designs and her ability to play many musical instruments from the ukulele to the cello. She was an avid reader and willing to share her extensive library. She also loved camping and traveling and even traveled to Ireland several times by herself. After meeting Jerry they traveled again to Ireland and much of Europe.
Becky was a true friend to many. Her friendships lasted the test of time, many from early grade school. She will be truly missed.

Becky is survived by her loving partner of 30 years, Jerry Freidman, of Cedar; her mother, Phyllis Howard, of Manton; sister, Mary (Larry) Bechtel; half-sister, Kimberly Yearnd Simon (Scott Dunlop); nephews, Corbin (Cheri) Bechtel and their children, Justin and Anna Bechtel, of Cadillac, and Barton (Barney) Bechtel (Erin Ammons), of Lansing; and many step siblings and their families.

She was preceded in death by her father, Harvey W. Kelly; and her stepfather, James A. Yearnd.

Please feel free to share your memories with Becky's family by visiting www.reynolds-jonkhoff.com .
Arrangements for the family have been entrusted to Reynolds Jonkhoff Funeral Home and Cremation Services.