Mrs. Iva Laverne Fuller Kelley passed away peacefully at the age of 93 at Hospice Savannah on Monday, January 24, 2011. She had a long, happy and fruitful life. She was born in Los Angeles, CA, a fifth generation daughter of the Golden West. She grew up in San Francisco and Palo Alto, CA, graduated with a degree in teaching from San Jose State College in San Jose, CA, the first to attend college in her family. She took her first teaching job in Mt. Cloud, CA, driving there in her first and favorite car, a green Model A Ford. She married her beloved husband, Ralph shortly before he went to England to do his part in World War II. Their family had already begun with a son when he returned and they had a daughter soon after.

Iva followed her husband as he went through several assignments while an officer in the U.S. Air Force for the next twenty years, a third child, another son, enlarging the family along the way. The family was stationed in Texas, New York, France, Utah and finally in Savannah, GA, in 1957. Iva fell in love with Savannah and considered it her home ever since. After doing some traveling after Ralph retired, they eventually returned to Savannah for good to live in her house on Willow Road. Iva was a member of the American Association of University Women, of Historic Savannah, and of the Savannah Symphony. She and her husband Ralph were communicants of St. John's Episcopal Church for many years, and were among the founding members of St. George's Episcopal Church, where she sang in the choir and became a member of the Daughter's of the King.

Iva taught 3rd grade at Savannah Country Day School and helped to start the Specific Language Disability program there. She also worked with the Royce Reading Center, helping her friend Harriet Royce during its early days.

Iva loved best being a homemaker, mother and wife. She was a gourmet cook, talented musician, passionate gardener and an excellent seamstress.

She was preceded in death by her husband Ralph, and is survived by her children, Dwight, Cynthia and David, his wife Lynn and two grandchildren, Nathaniel and Christopher- she was our fearless leader, strong advocate, our conscience and our loyal friend. She is also survived in California by her first cousin Marlie and her family, by her niece Colleen and her family and by her cousin Jim, his wife Carol and their family.

A memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m., Monday, January 31, 2011 in the Hodgson Chapel of Fox & Weeks Funeral Directors conducted by the Reverend Gavin G. Dunbar.

Inurnment will be in Hillcrest Abbey-West.

Remembrances: Bible Broadcasting Network, P.O. Box 7300, Charlotte, NC 28241.

Please sign our on-line guestbook at www.foxandweeks.com

Fox & Weeks Funeral Directors, Hodgson Chapel