Sara Jamille Kelley was born to Mary Alice (Harris) and William Christopher Kelley on August 23, 1971 in Phoenix, Arizona.
Sara spent most of her childhood and youth growing up in downtown Phoenix, where she attended Catholic schools. Family in Arizona on her mother’s side was extended, so Sara spent much time with grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins. Sara went on many desert adventures with her grandfather Bill “Trapper” Harris. As a child spending many hours in the kitchen with her mother and grandmother, she gained her impressive cooking skills.
Sara made friends easily and had a natural love of life. She was boisterous and fun and always willing to try something new. She had many opportunities to travel around the Southwest, going to camp in Arizona, visiting relatives in California, and journeying to Mexico and Colorado.
Always a lover of dogs and children, Sara had a way with both. She always had a canine companion; at many times in her life was a caregiver of young people, in both paid and volunteer positions.
An avid artist, Sara created many fine works in photography, drawing, painting, ceramics and the like. Several of her drawings were displayed in the Arizona Capitol Building, and one of her photographs – taken of a rugged mountain man in Telluride, Colorado – became famous. She shared her love of art with the children in her life – younger nieces and nephews and with her own two children, Logan MacDonald and Ava Ochoa.
Sara had a vibrant personality that was contagious, as well as an uncanny sense of humor, salty language and a no-nonsense approach. She loved to laugh and joke with her friends and customers at the Trio, which she took over as owner in 2011. She welcomed all to the Trio Tavern and took seriously the responsibility of providing a social gathering place for the community.
Sara had an intense love for family and dearly missed those she had lost.
She is survived by her father, her sisters Mary Elizabeth Kelley and Rose (Turnage) Tuers, brother Christian Kelley, cousins, aunts, uncles, her children, and numerous nieces and nephews – all who loved her and will miss her dearly. She is preceded in death by her older brother Trapper David Kelley.
