Kelly Elizabeth Wilson, 63, passed away on Thursday, July 25, 2024 after a surprising and brief battle with pancreatic cancer.  Kelly was born in Atlanta, Georgia in 1961, the fourth and last child of Elizabeth Jane Trentham and Robert Lee McDaniel Sr.  Kelly's parents divorced shortly after her birth.  When her mother remarried in 1963, she assumed the name of her stepfather, becoming Kelly Rowedder.

Kelly grew up in Tucker and Decatur, Georgia, attending Shamrock High School.  She continued her education later in life, earning a BA in Business Economics from Ashford University in 2012, the first in her family to finish college.

Kelly lived in North Carolina with her first husband, Kraig Taylor, where her cherished daughter Sarah was born. After the divorce, she married Rick Wilson in 1998.  The small family fulfilled their dream to live in Santa Rosa, California, where Kelly spent seventeen years, sometimes mothering Rick's three children from a previous marriage.  Kelly's love of scrapbooking and gardening flowered in California, and the family spent endless hours combing the sandy beaches nearby.  She made many wonderful friends there and began her long banking career, working primarily in credit unions where her warm smile and loving charm satisfied both colleagues and customers.

Kelly never lost her southern accent, and Californians often asked her questions just to hear her talk.  Always gentle, kind, and good natured, Kelly happily obliged.  And she was a champion talker!

In 2015, Kelly moved to Chattanooga to support her daughter and dear grandchildren, A, Jaden, and Bentley.  She quickly won many new friends, working at Trust Federal Credit Union and Tennessee Valley Federal Credit Union.  She had been happily remodeling her house and caring for grandson Bentley, who lived with her, when cancer struck.  A lover of butterflies, fairies, goofy kitchen gadgets, beautiful cats, and clothes, Kelly lit up any room she walked into.  Her always positive spirit and genuine, sweet smile cannot be forgotten.  Kelly loved everyone, and she was well loved.

Kelly is pre-deceased by her mother, Elizabeth Trentham Morris, and her birth father, Robert Lee McDaniel Sr.

She is survived by her daughter, Sarah Perales and fiancé Chad; grandchildren, A Brayton, Jaden Perales, Bentley Wilson, and Jacks Perales; siblings, Venerable Thubten Chonyi (Barbara McDaniel), Patti (Kevin) Massey, and Mac (Val) Rowedder; step-father, Don Morris; special friend, Tom Cass; and felines, Thomas, Max, Love Bug, and Whiskers.

Many thanks to the kind and skillful team at Amedisys Hospice and treasured friend, Roberta Brady.

The family will receive friends on Saturday, July 27, 2024 from 12 p.m. - 3 p.m. at Turner Funeral Home @ Hwy 58.  An informal sharing circle about Kelly's life begins at 1:30 p.m.

All are welcome to share their remembrances.

See Kelly's Life in Pictures Here

Please share your memories and express condolences to the family on their guestbook.