Jeanne Rainwater Kelley

Jeanne Rainwater Kelley


Deprecated: trim(): Passing null to parameter #1 ($string) of type string is deprecated in /home/ruebel/public_html/obits/obituaries.php on line 271
Mar 21st, 2018

    Deprecated: trim(): Passing null to parameter #1 ($string) of type string is deprecated in /home/ruebel/public_html/obits/obituaries.php on line 279
  • Death Date: Mar 21, 2018

  • Deprecated: trim(): Passing null to parameter #1 ($string) of type string is deprecated in /home/ruebel/public_html/obits/obituaries.php on line 285

    Deprecated: trim(): Passing null to parameter #1 ($string) of type string is deprecated in /home/ruebel/public_html/obits/obituaries.php on line 302
  • Save: Print this Obituary

Biography: Jeanne Rainwater Kelley the daughter of Cloud Night and Lula (Dump) Burrow Rainwater died Wednesday, March 21, 2018. Jeanne was born in Little Rock on February 4, 1920. She was the great niece of Isham Lafayette Burrow who founded Central Collegiate Institute in Altus, Arkansas which became Hendrix College when it was moved to Conway, Arkansas. Jeanne attended Little Rock public schools, Hendrix College, and the University of Arkansas and was affiliated with Chi Omega sorority. She was a former member of the Junior League of Little Rock. Jeanne was a talented artist and free hand potter. She received her early art training from Hendrix College art professor, Louis Freund formerly of Eureka Springs. Later in life Jeanne became close friends with Louis and his wife, Elsa, a renowned watercolorist and jeweler. In the early 1970s, Jeanne?s love of art took her to the Arkansas Arts Center as a volunteer in its new gift shop. After the gift shop manager retired, Jeanne was hired by Townsend Wolfe, director of the Arts Center, as the shop manager. Among the items that Jeanne was interested in featuring in the shop were quality handmade American crafts. American crafts were just emerging as collectable gift items, and Jeanne traveled to markets in Texas, North Carolina, Maryland, and Pennsylvania to find objects for sale in the Arts Center shop. Jeanne also began featuring Arkansas crafts in the Arts Center gift shop, and encouraged Arkansas?s most well known potter, Rosemary Fisher, to sell her craft through the gift shop. In the 1980s Jeanne learned the art of hand crafted pottery from Rosemary Fisher and Gayle Batson, instructors at the Arts Center. She created a series of hand crafted houses, circa early 1800s, that were replicas of the structures located at the Arkansas Territorial Restoration. Jeanne later donated the entire original series to the Historic Arkansas Museum. She also sketched pictures of churches she saw while traveling and later created detailed, foot- high ceramic constructions. She was drawn to churches--especially small ones in humble surroundings?because of their ?humanness?. She would say that ?a little church tells all about what has gone on in that wee section of the world, the births, the christenings, the weddings and funerals---it?s all there?. Jeanne was a wonderful world traveler and loved to learn about different cultures. She was as comfortable in a small house in San Miguel, Mexico as she was in an apartment in Santa Fe or in a small town in Italy or a hotel room in England or Portugal or in a little riverfront cabin in Scott, Arkansas. Her favorite traveling companion was her long time friend, Cissy Brandon (Mrs. Walter N.) Jeanne was a member of Bill?s Club. She volunteered at the Wolfe Street Center and helped start the Alcoholics Anonymous Women?s Dorm. She was a close friend of Joe McQueeny. She was a member of the Ecumenical Buddhist Society. She was a graduate of Carl Jung?s Centerpoint Program. She was a member of Dharma Friends. She was among the founding families of Westover Hills Presbyterian Church. She was a member of Second Presbyterian Church. Jeanne was a friend to all. She treated everyone with grace and dignity. She had an incredible love of life, a naughty sense of humor, and was wise and worldly at the same time. She was very optimistic and brought enthusiasm to those who knew her. She was a library patron and a voracious reader, reading books, eight magazines and two newspaper subscriptions a week. Jeanne was preceded in death by her parents and her sister, Marjorie Rainwater Keyes Thalheimer Smith, and her former husband, G. Larry Kelley. She is survived by her daughters, Eileen Coe and husband Gary of Rogers, Arkansas, Susan Schallhorn and husband, Tom of Bentonville and Little Rock, and their daughters, Caroline Clarke and her husband John of Bentonville and their children, Laura Katherine, Elizabeth and Jackson Clarke of Bentonville, and Susan B. Schallhorn and children, Andrew and Madeline Coke of Dallas, TX. Her beloved nephews, Cloud Keyes and wife, Nancy and their children and grandchildren, and Griff Keyes and wife, Kenan and their children and grandchildren of Little Rock. She is also survived by her longtime caregiver and friend, Shawnda Washington and her sisters and care team. A very special thank you to Arkansas Hospice for their compassionate care of Jeanne. A visitation will be held at Ruebel Funeral Home on Tuesday, March 27, 2018 from 4 to 6 p.m. A private graveside will be held at Roselawn Memorial Park. Memorials may be made to Historic Arkansas Museum, 200 E. Third St., Little Rock, AR 72201 or Arkansas Arts Center, P.O. Box 2137, Little Rock, AR 72203.

Condolences(13)
Sissy Cheairs Jones
#13
Mar 15th, 2019 11:44 am
I am so sorry to hear of your loss.
Sincerely,
Sissy Cheairs Jones
Woody Butler
#12
Mar 15th, 2019 11:44 am
Susan and Eileen your mother may not be physically with you but her tremendous love for you always surrounds you. She walks always by your side and in quiet moments you may hear her whispering her love into your ears. She now walks with angels across the universe and beyond. My prayers and love are always with you and your families.
Cynthia Mason
#11
Mar 15th, 2019 11:44 am
Jeanne was a true treasure. Interesting,smart,outrageous and so kind and thoughtful..
I remember her telling me that when you get old be sure and have lots of young friends..you will never be lonely and you will have so much fun and learn so much. How true !! How true !! I know Heaven was so glad to have her..I know we were when she was on this earth.
Cynthia Mason
Martha Ann Oliver Lowe
#10
Mar 15th, 2019 11:44 am
Eileen,
My thoughts and prayers are with you and all who dearly loved your Mom. She was a wonderful treasure and blessing to me. As a child, she delighted me with stories of sights, travels, and adventures. As an adult traveling around our amazing country, I often wondered how Mrs. Kelley would weave the tales of my adventures. Jeanne will be missed.
Much love to you.
Martha Ann Oliver Lowe
Marnette Trotter
#9
Mar 15th, 2019 11:44 am
Susan and Eileen.....what a bright shining star Jeanne was in my life and will remain so in my memories of her. Love to each of you, Marnette
Nan Maureen Renaud
#8
Mar 15th, 2019 11:44 am
Jeanne was the friend to be admired. Her ability to remain upbeat and positive was remarkable. I will miss our weekly connections for meditation and then lunch for the last 20 plus years. She was my touchstone. Thinking of all who knew and loved her.
Peggy McLean Gross
#7
Mar 15th, 2019 11:44 am
Susan and Eileen,

I was sorry to read about your mom in today's paper. I still remember the sweet note she sent to me when my mom died two years ago. My condolences - and blessings to you both.

Peggy Gross
Toni Diavatopoulos
#6
Mar 15th, 2019 11:44 am
Susan,

I am so sorry to hear about your mother.
Love to you and your family.
sandy pope
#5
Mar 15th, 2019 11:44 am
Jeanne was a jewel - a precious treasure to those of us in the Ecumenical Buddhist Society in Little Rock. She loved the Buddhist teachers who visited (ever teasing about the cute ones) and she taught us and encouraged us all to be respectful and to remember that we are all family. She loved the ceremony, the community and the celebrations we shared at the center and at Jim Rush?s house. I am honored to have known her and to have spent time on the cushion next to her. With deep gratitude, Sandy Pope
Kunzang and Willis Brown
#4
Mar 15th, 2019 11:44 am
Blessings as you continue on your journey, Jeanne. We were so blessed to know you for the time we did and you were a Godsend to me (kunzang) whilst i was "sentenced" to live in Little Rock! I fondly remember your gruff gravely voice and ribald sense of humor, your knowledge and love of life! Love Love Love!
Ellis Widner
#3
Mar 15th, 2019 11:44 am
Jeanne, In my mind, was a queen. I admired and loved her for everything she was ... thoughtful, generous, a little outrageous, a direct no-BS honesty, compassionate ... and so much more. She had a lot of boyfriends, me included. How cool is that! May good memories be a comfort and inspiration for the family and all of us. In our hearts, Jeanne's light burns brightly. Ellis
Elaine and Lynn Wade
#2
Mar 15th, 2019 11:44 am
We will never forget you dear Jeanne. What a treasure you are and a blessing for everyone who knew you in this lifetime. Om Mani Padme Hung. With Love......
Debby Coates
#1
Mar 15th, 2019 11:44 am
Dear Susan and Eileen and family,
Jeanne was a treasure in my life, and I remember meeting her the first time when I was 9 or 10 at Old River in Scott, and I loved her red lipstick and the outrageous stories she was telling! What a woman!
It was wonderful to reconnect with her in 1995 at a Journey into Wholeness in NC and to spend many Sunday's and Wednesday's with her through EBS!! Jeanne taught me so much about love and life and patience and compassion. She has been a role model for so many of us!
I will be out of town on Tuesday for the visitation but will be sending love to all of you!! You took such good care of Jeanne. She was blessed.
Much love,
Debby

Leave your Condolence




Light a Candle


* Enter verification code
Mathematical catpcha image
=
Top