N. Jane (Holden) Kelley (1928 - 2016)

Born 31 Aug 1928 in Abilene, Taylor, Texas, United States

Ancestors

Wife of David Humiston Kelley — married about 1958 in Lima, Peru

Died 23 Apr 2016 at age 87 in Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Don Holden [send private message]

Biography

Jane had an interesting life as described in her obituary: Jane Holden was born in Abilene, Texas to Olive Price Holden and William Curry Holden. Jane earned degrees from Texas Tech (BA, 1949), University of Texas (MA, 1951) and Harvard (PhD, 1966). Jane married David Humiston Kelley in 1958 in Peru after he bought her a one way ticket to Lima (perhaps her previous broken engagements suggested this would be the better way!). Jane and Dave came to the University of Calgary in 1968 as part of the newly created Department of Archaeology. Jane and Dave embraced the quirky inhabitants of the department and they quickly became an extended family. Her career spanned seven decades, and despite three official retirements, she continued working to the end. Among her many accomplishments, which ranged from attaining a welding certificate during World War II, to being the first woman president of the Canadian Association of Archaeologists, and the first woman treasurer of the Society of American Anthropologists, to working on many sites around the world, Jane was unique. She has a wide-ranging research and publication record, but her most cherished role was being a mentor. Key areas of research included the Lubbock Lake Site, Yaqui ethnographies and the archaeology of Chihuahua. With Dave in 1987 they founded a support group for parents in the newly formed AIDS Calgary. At the University of Calgary she held many positions including faculty, Department Chair, Director of the Humanities Institute and Associate to the Vice President, Research. Among her many awards, she was recognized by the University of Calgary with the Order of the University of Calgary in 2004 and by the Museum of Archaeology with a Lifetime Achievement Award in American Archaeology in 2009. Jane is survived by her loving children Becky, Dennis and Megan; granddaughter Heather (Edith); grandsons Tico (Shannon), Thomas and Christopher; and great-granddaughters Aurora and Rowan. She was predeceased by her parents, her husband David, her children Michael and Ana and her granddaughter Tara. Funeral Services will be held at CALGARY CREMATORIUM CHAPEL, 3219 – 4th Street N.W., (within the valley of Queen's Park Cemetery) on Saturday, April 30, 2016 at 11:00 a.m. Graveside Service to follow at Queens Park Cemetery. Reception to be held at The Block on 4th Street and 23 Ave NW from 2:00-4:00 p.m

Sources

• Find A Grave memorial no. 161842205.