On Wednesday, February 19, 2025, Sharon Lee Porter Kelly, 83, of Dixon, Kentucky was met with God’s loving embrace after passing peacefully surrounded by her daughters at Deaconess Midtown in Evansville, IN.
Sharon was born in the Shiloh community of Union Parish, LA on December 4, 1941, to the late John Tilman Porter and Betty Roach Porter. Through her father’s job with Texas Gas Transmission Corporation, the family moved to Lisbon, LA and eventually Sterlington, LA where Sharon was a starring guard on her Junior High School’s basketball team. Her love of basketball continued in high school where she managed the girls’ basketball team in grades 10-12. The family had a brief move to Memphis, TN before settling in Owensboro, KY. After attending Brescia University in Owensboro, she went on to work for her father’s company, Texas Gas, before spending many years as a stay-at-home mom. She later took a job at Kentucky Finance, from which she retired. Regardless of her career, Sharon always felt her most important job and her greatest sense of pride was raising her four daughters Kim, Tammy, Nickki, and Summer. One of their favorite memories were the Saturday nights spent in pink hair rollers, watching TV and eating popcorn. In early 1992, she was set up on a blind date where she met the love of her life, Stan Kelly. After a whirlwind romance the two were married on December 4, 1992. Through that marriage she gained seven additional children, Mike, Jack, Pat, Tom, Stan Jr., Laura, and Lisa. Stan and Sharon spent thirty-two years loving each other before Stan’s passing in October 2024.
During their time together they enjoyed gardening, beach vacations, and visiting family in Colorado and Louisiana. Some of Sharon’s favorite memories with Stan were the times he would read poetry to her or when they would sing to each other. Sharon loved Jesus fiercely and she was committed to spreading that love to everyone she encountered. Anyone who met her could speak to the kindness that seemed to radiate from her and a smile that could light up a room. Sharon was a breast cancer survivor and gave back to her community by volunteering for Relay for life and counseling women with the Reach to Recovery program. Additionally, she spent time volunteering at Baptist Health in Madisonville, KY, serving as President of the volunteer program, even starring in Baptist Health commercials and lending her beautiful smile for billboards. A true southern belle, she was known to be a charmer, making fast friends with everyone she met. She loved to entertain whether it be hosting family holidays, having lunch dates with her girlfriends, hosting Bunco nights, or leading the women’s ministry at Miracle Temple Church of God. Some things were constants in her life including her love of UK basketball and Blake Shelton, her obsession with sweet tea and her need to always have a fresh manicure.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband of thirty-two years, Stan Kelly.
She is survived by her daughters, Kim (Kyle) Gilles of Nashville, TN, Tammy (Tim) Michael of Cookeville, TN, Nickki Poole of Madisonville, and Summer Warren of Nashville, TN; bonus children, Michael “Mike” (April) Kelly of Littleton, CO, John “Jack” Kelly of Minneapolis, MN, Patrick “Pat” (Desi) Kelly, Thomas “Tom” Kelly of Hanson, KY, Stanley “Stan” Kelly, Jr. of Madisonville, KY, Laura Kelly of Thorton, CO, Brette Kelly of Canada, and Lisa (David) Frost of Brush, CO; brother Dr. John R. Porter and sister-in-law Terry Porter; grandchildren Lauren (Brian) Early, Jessica (Tyler) Curran, Ashley (Daryl) Mumford, Baylee Eastwood, Gray Michael, and Emily Michael; bonus grandchildren, Amanda, Brianna, Liam, Matthew, Kayla, Alex, Amber, Ash, Tasha, Desiree, Christopher; twenty great grandchildren; two grand dogs, Derby Warren and Wednesday Michael; two nieces; and one nephew.
A funeral service will be held at 1 p.m. on Monday, February 24, 2025, in the chapel of Harris Funeral Home with Dr. Michael Knight officiating and Bro. James Crump assisting. Burial to follow at Slaughters Cemetery in Slaughters, KY.
Visitation will be from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m. on Sunday and from 11 a.m. until the funeral hour on Monday at the funeral home.
Pallbearers are Brian Early, Skylar McDaniel, Brayden McDaniel, Gray Michael, David Frost and Daryl Mumford.
The family wants to extend a special thank you to Sharon’s medical providers and in-home caregivers Allison, Tosha and Suzie. A special thank you to Sindy Walker who not only acted as a caregiver but also became a member of the family.
Flowers are welcome; however, donations can be made to Western Kentucky Dream Center, c/o Covenant Community Church, 1055 North Main Street, Madisonville, KY 42431.
Online condolences may be made to the family at www.harrisfuneralinc.com
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