Judith E. Kelly

Judith E. Kelly, 78, passed away March, 9, 2023 at home with loved ones by her side. Born in Akron, Ohio to Creed and Elsie (Billings) Roberts, she was preceded in death by both parents and husband Tom Kelly and sister Swanee Roberts and brother LeRoy Roberts.

Judy lived in the Akron, Highland Square area most of her life, but also ventured overseas as a military wife in Germany where she initially learned her trade as a bookkeeper working on the military base. She was a treasured reliable employee at several Akron companies but her passion and pride lied in her work of 31 years as the main bookkeeper and office manager for Don Drumm Studios & Gallery where she enjoyed working with artists in the Akron community and across the country.

Judy was an adventurer and had a "need for speed!" She enjoyed motorcycle riding, race car driving and assembling and flying kit remote control airplanes -- she would have flown a real one, given the chance! She also enjoyed hunting and collecting guns. Some of her wild stories inspired her close friends to give her the moniker "The Calamity Jane of Akron"!

Judy also had a deep love and compassion for animals and cherished all the fur babies that she parented throughout her life. Her most recent loves were her Pomeranians, Abby and Gibbs. She and husband Tom named them after the characters from their favorite TV show - NCIS.

She will be sadly missed by her many cousins, dear friends, Stephanie Serna, Joe Boyle, many other recent and long time friends and neighbors, the staff at Don Drumm Studios & Gallery -- and of course, her dogs.

Everyone is invited to visit Wednesday, March 15, 2023 from 5 to 7 p.m. at Newcomer, Akron Chapel, 131 N. Canton Rd. The funeral service will take place Thursday, March 16th at 1 p.m. at the funeral home. Interment will follow at Greenlawn Memorial Park. Those who wish may make memorial donations to: Passion Works Studio (https://passionworks.org/) -or- Ohio Living Hospice Foundation (https://www.ohioliving.org/foundation/donate) -or- One of a Kind Pets (www.oneofakindpets.com/site/) -or- to the charity of their choice.