Read Margaret Anne Kelley Small's Obituary & Leave Condolences

In memory of

Margaret Anne Kelley Small

Traverse City, MI, USA

1937 - April 19, 2021

1937 - Apr 19, 2021

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Margaret Anne Kelley Small, 83, passed away peacefully on April 19, 2021 surrounded with love and family at home. She fought a long battle with metastatic breast cancer over the past 15 years and showed amazing strength to the end.

Born in Lake City, TN to Margaret and William Kelley, Margaret Anne was adored by all from the beginning. She was passionate about meeting people, reading books and knowing God from a very young age and she had a way of making everyone feel like family.

While attending East High School in East Knoxville, Margaret Anne met Robert "Bobby" Small and soon realized he was "the one". Dr. Small and Margaret went on to be married for 30 years and raised six children in Stevensville, MI: Robyn, Sherry, John, Jim, Joe and Lindsay Scott. She was a devoted wife and loved having babies and being a mother. She was an advocate for breastfeeding and recognized the significance of the bond between mother and baby. In the 60's, Margaret was one of the first members of LaLeche and became a community leader supporting mothers struggling with breastfeeding their children.

Margaret Anne was a committed Christian and lived each day to serve the Lord. She dedicated her life to Christ in high school and her faith was her guide throughout her life. Margaret Anne participated in and taught many bible studies, became a Young Life leader to reach high school youth(and her teenage children), belonged to several church families and led many people to Christ over the years.

Margaret Anne was predeceased by her mother Margaret "Peggy" Sharp, father William "Billy" Kelley, brother Cecil "Buzzy" Kelley, son John Small and her fiance George Bailey who passed in December 2020. She leaves behind five children- Robyn, Sherry, Jim, Joe and Lindsay Scott and seven grandchildren-Teddi, Clark, Dirk, Skylar, Dayton, Zoe and Ula.

For friends who knew Margaret Anne in Traverse City, her church Haven of Hope, will have a memorial after the Sunday church service, May 2 at 12pm. Anyone is welcome to attend.

The funeral service will be held in Knoxville, TN at Berry Lynnhurst Funeral Home on Adair Drive on May 8, 2021, receiving friends from 11am-1pm, service at 1pm followed by catered reception at 2pm. Flowers and cards may be sent to the funeral home.

There will be a livestream of the service for those who are unable to attend. We will provide more details closer to the date.
Graveside service and burial will be a small private gathering the following day, Mother's Day.

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