Terri E. (Crabtree) Kelley, obituary

Wed, 05/18/2022 - 12:30pm

WARREN — Terri Ellen (Crabtree) Kelley, 63, went home to be with Jesus on Monday, May 16, 2022 at the Sussman House in Rockport with her loving husband, Donald, by her side.

Born August 18, 1958, in Camden, Terri was the daughter of Kilton and Joyce (Harvey) Crabtree. She graduated from Camden-Rockport High School in 1977 where she participated in chorus, high school and town theater productions, and chamber singers. In 1979 she married her high school sweetheart, Donald Kelley. Two years later they welcomed their only child, April Marie. She then attended Mansfield Beauty Academy and opened her Camden salon “Shear Performance” in 1984. She went on to skillfully cut and style hair in homes and salons from Maine to Florida.

Over the years she also worked as a dental assistant, an in-home caregiver, and personal chef. Terri had the gift of creativity. From cooking to felting, everything she touched turned to gold. She excelled at many artistic mediums: drawing, painting, sewing, gardening, interior decorating, refinishing furniture, and playing guitar, violin, and cello. She delighted in gifting her creations to friends and family and often donated items and the money raised to charitable causes.

She has been a member of several churches: Chestnut Street Baptist, Calvary Baptist, Emmanuel Baptist, and Faith Baptist located in Florida, and most recently at South Hope Community Church. She was a woman of faith and very active in the many facets of her church community. She especially enjoyed entertaining, often hosting dinner parties for missionaries home on furlough and guest preachers. She was affectionately known as “Nona” to her two grandchildren. She loved to spend time taking walks, gardening, and cooking with them.

Terri was predeceased by her father, Kilton Crabtree; an infant brother, Alan Crabtree; her nephew Gabriel Payor; and her grand-nephew Hudson Adolphsen.

She is survived by her mother, Joyce Crabtree Stein of Camden; her husband, Donald Kelley of Warren; their daughter, April Murray and her husband Nick; grandsons, Lochlan and Griffin of Union; her sisters, Tracie Payor and her husband Andrew of South Thomaston, Tina Fairfield and her husband Michael of Union; her brother, Troy Crabtree and his wife Maegan of Westbrook; 14 nieces and nephews; and 19 grandnieces and grandnephews, the youngest Bode Adolphsen born the afternoon of her passing.

A celebration of life will be held for Terri on Thursday, May 19, 2022, at 2 p.m., at the Pursuit Church, 215 Limerock St, Rockland.

Interment at Oak Hill Cemetery will be held  Tuesday, May 31, 2022, at 10 a.m.

To share a memory or condolence with Terri’s family, please visit their Book of Memories at www.bchfh.com.