Eleonore Hartmann Kelly, age 79, of the Deep River Community, Sanford, NC, died Friday, December 1, 2017 at Central Carolina Hospital.

She was born in Weingarten, Germany on March 18, 1938 to the late Heinrich Hartmann and Martha Schaufelberger Hartmann.  In addition to her parents she was preceded in death by a son Gene Patrick “Pat” Kelly.  Eleonore received her college education in Germany with a degree in Office Management.  She then traveled to New York where she worked as a nanny.  Upon her return to Germany, she met her husband of 56 years, Ernest Clifford Kelly, who was serving in the United States Army.  They returned to Clifford’s hometown of Deep River in Lee County, NC and raised their family while she worked as a Teacher’s Assistant at Deep River Elementary School and JC Penney Department Store.

In addition to her husband she is survived by a son Michael Ernest Kelly of Carolina Beach; daughters Susan Kelly Brown and husband Jimmy of Broadway, Annette Kelly Fawcett of Sanford; brothers Wolfgang Hartmann and Gerd Hartmann both of Karlsruhe, Germany; nine grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.

The family will receive friends Monday, December 4, 2017 from 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM in the fellowship hall of Flat Springs Baptist Church and at other times at the family home.  A memorial service will follow at 5:00 PM in the sanctuary of the church with Dr. Gary McCollough officiating.

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