Carol Lou (Koehler) Kelley, 79
Carol Lou (Koehler) Kelley passed away peacefully in her sleep June 26, 2025, at her home in Bonners Ferry, Idaho, which she still shared with her loving husband Dale of 61 years.
Carol was born to Frederick Otto Koehler and Freda Eileen (Vinion) Koehler in Bonners Ferry, Idaho, on Sept. 19, 1945, five minutes before her identical twin, Kathy.
A tomboy at heart, she was raised in Libby, Montana, with her siblings Ross, Pete, EmilyJean (Bugs) and twin sister Kathy McLeish, who still resides in Paradise Valley. She was competitive from the start, arriving first at birth and was known to beat everyone on the playground at a game of marbles, especially the boys in the neighborhood. She also had a natural ability to out-fish whoever she was with.
Carol attended all twelve years of school in Libby. She was often on the honor roll and graduated from the Libby Class of ‘63.
The twins, doing so much together, of course, attended social events together. One such event included the bi-monthly dances at Curly Creek Grange Hall. That is where they both met their future husbands.
Carol married the Love of her life, Dale Kelley, in Libby, Mont., on Oct. 12, 1963. They were blessed with four children: son Kennerd (Markell) Kelley, daughter Anna (Delton) Amoth, daughter Freda (Dan) Jansen and son Marcus (Misty) Kelley, nine grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren; and numerous favorite nieces, nephews and special friends.
She was involved with her church's Boy Scouts, helping several achieve their Eagle Scouts. She was quite patriotic and stayed true to her values and beliefs. She enjoyed embroidery and the challenge of making the back look as good as the front. She always had the most loving, nonjudgmental advice when asked. And was deemed the best mother-in-law ever. Family was very important to her and brought her great joy! She was so proud of and attentive to her grandchildren and great-grandchildren; each one has a special nickname and knows they were her "favorite." She was lovingly titled "Grandma Flash" for all the fun pictures taken.
Carol adored Irish singer Daniel O’Donnell’s values and thoroughly enjoyed dancing to his nostalgic songs. She loved and cared about everyone she met. She was kind, thoughtful and considerate to everybody.
She enjoyed fishing with her husband, Dale, they went steelhead fishing on their 50th anniversary, in the dark.
Carol is preceded in death by many loved ones and was surely greeted in heaven by sweet little faces gone before.
She will be sorely missed and leaves us with many beautiful memories as she returns home to her Father in Heaven … another beautiful soul to add to His heavenly garden.