Mercille Wren Kelly

A visitation celebrating the life of Mercille Kelly will be held at Kilpatrick’s Rose-Neath Funeral Home in Bossier City, Louisiana, on Saturday, December 3, 2022, from 10:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. A graveside service will follow at Hill Crest Memorial Park in Haughton, Louisiana. Officiating the service will be Rev. John Haynes of Franklin, Tennessee. Honorary pallbearers will be Paul Carson, Mike Smoak, E. C. Green, Robert LaBorde, Robert McNaughton, and Sonny Wren.

Mercille Wren Kelly was born on September 9, 1926, to the late Charles E. Wren and Elsie Kees Wren in Coushatta, Louisiana. She passed away peacefully on November 23, 2022, in Spring Hill, Tennessee, at the age of 96.

Mercille retired from Ashland Oil (formerly Riley Beaird) with 27 years of service. During her work career, she was active in the American Business Women’s Association and was named Woman of the Year by her chapter. She and her late husband, James, were very active in many phases of El Karubah Shrine. Together they chaired many special functions and galas. She is a Past High Priestess of Mesha Court of the Ladies’ Oriental Shrine and was the Charter President of the Steel Magnolias P.H.P. Club, Past President of Ladies Auxiliary of Mithra Grotto, and a member of Khafra Temple of Daughters of the Nile. She is a member of Green Acres Baptist Church. Mercille enjoyed playing cards with her friends:  Betty, Kyle Ann, Billie, and Erma, at the Elks Club and St. Joseph.

Mercille moved to Franklin, Tennessee, in 2014 and resided at The Hearth, an assisted living facility. She was among the first residents when the doors opened in 2014. Mercille was an active baker, suggested and led many of the daily activities, and was very involved in the dining culture during the community’s infancy. She was also the first Resident Council President, and the chair of the Garden Club. Mercille participated in playing cards several times a week, daily exercise, and baking cookies for the residents, where she became affectionately known as “The Cookie Lady”.  In her honor, The Hearth recently dedicated their restaurant to her and named it “Mercille’s”. 

She was preceded in death by her husband, James, who was the love of her life; sister, Jean Jones, and brother-in-law, Floyd Jones of Shreveport, LA; brothers, J E Wren and Charles Wren of Bossier City, LA; sister-in-law, Frances Wren of Del City, OK; and son-in-law, Dale Ward of Spring Hill, TN. Mercille is survived by her son, Randy Frame and wife Janet of Spring Hill, TN; daughter, Renee Ward of Spring Hill, TN; granddaughter, Angela Stewart and husband Nathan of Chattanooga, TN; a very special sister-in-law, Pat Wren of Bossier City, LA; along with numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials be made to Shriners Hospital for Children, PO Box 947765, Atlanta, GA 30394.