Kelli S. Hendryx

Kelli S. Hendryx, 58, of Morton, formerly of Monticello, Ind., passed away at 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 24, 2015, at UnityPoint Health-Methodist in Peoria. She was born March 11, 1956, in Watseka, Ill., to Arthur and Greta (Pickard) Burns. She married Jeff Hendryx on July 14, 1979, in Watseka. Surviving are her husband of Morton; two daughters, Holly (Michael, II) Yordy and Chelsie (Tyler) Howard, both of Morton; one grandson, Michael "Tripp" Yordy, III; and a granddaughter due in June; two step-grandchildren, Tessa Howard and Will Howard; two brothers, Dr. Nicholas (Cindy) Burns of Watseka and Jeffrey (Kay) Burns of Madison, Wis.; and many nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; her father-in-law, J.D. Hendryx; and one nephew. Kelli graduated from Watseka High School in 1974 and then graduated from Eastern Illinois University in 1978 with a degree in education. She furthered her studies with a master's degree in education from Indiana University, Kokomo. During this time, Kelli was crowned Miss Iroquois County and was second runner up in the Miss Illinois Pageant. She taught elementary education for 14 years at Meadowlawn Grade School in Monticello, until the family moved to Morton in 1994. Kelli enjoyed volunteering especially in the schools and attending her daughters' many activities. She also was active in working with the contestants during the Miss Morton Pageants. During her free time, she enjoyed traveling, being social and working in her yard. We, the family, would like to thank the following people for allowing us to continue to create family memories with Mom for the last four years: OSF St. Francis Neurology and the Neurology ICU; Cleveland Clinic Lakewood Neurology; Illinois Cancer Center; Morton Terrace Nursing Home & Rehabilitation Center; and Physical Therapy Services of Morton and Peoria. We would like to extend a personal thank you to Gombosuren Oyunahimeg "Augi", all of the girls at Care Solutions Home Health Care and especially Dr. Janice Takata-Rossi for her compassion over the years. We are forever grateful to the nurses and staff of 7 Hamilton at Methodist for showing heartfelt kindness over the last week and for pulling together a wedding in three hours so Kelli could watch her daughter walk down the aisle and be part of her wedding day. Kelli loved life and was an amazingly strong woman in the face of adversity. Local visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. CST Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2015, at Knapp-Johnson Funeral Home and Cremation Center in Morton. Visitation will also be held Thursday, Jan. 29, at the Springer-Voorhis-Draper Funeral Home in Monticello, Ind., from 4 to 8 p.m. EST, where a recitation of the rosary will be held at 3:45 p.m. A funeral Mass will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, Jan. 30, at Our Lady of the Lakes Catholic Church, 543 S. Main St., Monticello, Ind., with Fr. David Rasner officiating. Burial will be at the Riverview I.O.O.F. Cemetery in rural Monticello. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Morton Community Foundation for the Kelli Hendryx Memorial Physical Therapy Scholarship Fund, 105 E. Jefferson St., Morton, IL 61550 or to Autism Services at Easter Seals Central Illinois, 507 E. Armstrong Ave., Peoria, IL 61603-3197.