Betty Ann Orr

Betty Ann (Kerry) Kelle-Orr, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, sister, and friend, passed away peacefully on July 30, 2023, in Stayton, Oregon.

Betty was born December 6, 1924 in Portland, Oregon to Walter Kerry and Catherine Rynning-Kerry who resided in Kerry, Oregon. (West of Portland, on the Columbia River.) The family moved to Clatskanie, where her sister Patricia was born in 1928. When Betty was eight years old, her parents separated. Catherine met and married Tex Brejcha, from Sellwood, Oregon. They moved to Waller, Texas for about one year, where her youngest sister Caroline was born in 1934. They moved to Los Angeles, California for about one year and then to Nehalem, Oregon. Catherine and Tex divorced and Catherine married Hollis Turnidge in 1939 and the family lived in Gates, across from the airport until Betty’s graduation from Gates High School in 1942.

Betty married Louis Robert (Bob) Kelle on January 25, 1943 and moved to Mill City. Bob joined the Navy in November of 1943.

Once back in Oregon, Bob and Betty had a son Louis Kelle in 1946 and then a daughter, Kathleen Kelle-Meader in 1949. Bob, Betty & family moved back to Gates in 1953. Bob & Betty divorced in 1967.

Betty married Newt Orr in 1979. Betty owned several businesses in Gates, a second hand shop called The This-n-That shop, as well as Granny’s Ceramics. She was also a long time Mayor of Gates and ran the post office with her daughter Kathy, for about 10 years. Betty enjoyed all things crafty, such as sewing, quilting, knitting, crocheting, ceramics, beadwork, etc. After Newt’s death in 1991, Betty spent many years traveling and staying in Yuma, Arizona in the winters. She met many great friends during her travels. In 1998, Betty reunited with Bob and they were together until his death on July 13th, 2019. They lived together on Green Mt Road until moving to an assisted living community in Stayton in 2017.

Survived by children Louis Kelle (Nancy), Kathy Kelle-Meader (Skip), 5 Grandchildren, 11 Great-Grandchildren and 4 Great-Great Grandchildren (The 4th to be born 8/7/23).

Per Betty’s wishes there will be no funeral services.