Obituary of Marie Kelly Robertson

In Memoriam: Marie Kelly Robertson (1929-2020) Marie (“Mibs”) Kelly Robertson, 90, of Basking Ridge, New Jersey, died peacefully at home on April 26, 2020, of pulmonary fibrosis. Marie leaves behind a legacy of love for her family, a commitment to voluntary service and devotion to faith. Born July 28, 1929, in Coatesville, Pennsylvania, Marie was the daughter of Irene Livaudais Becker and Julius Albert Becker, who were originally from New Orleans. After graduating from Coatesville High School, Marie earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Rosemont College in 1951. From 1951 to 1959, she worked for Trans World Airlines (TWA) as an air hostess, first based in Newark, then Kansas City and San Francisco serving on domestic flights. She later was based at the former Idlewild (now JFK International) Airport, where she served on several of the airline’s international routes and was promoted to supervisor of air hostesses in 1958. In September 1957, Marie was on TWA’s inaugural nonstop west-bound polar jetstream flight from London Heathrow to San Francisco, a first in aviation history with elapsed time for the 5,900-mile flight at 23 hours, 19 minutes. Throughout her life, she regaled family and friends with stories about the adventures of flying before the age of jet travel. In 1958, she married Robert Alan Kelly of Jersey City, NJ, and raised a family in Jersey City and Summit, NJ, and later in New Vernon, NJ. Throughout their 37-year marriage, she demonstrated a lifelong dedication to volunteer work. She was a long-standing member of the Beacon Fire Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution, and served as chapter regent, historian and chaplain. She also served as the New Jersey State DAR Librarian (1985-1989) and state chairman of the NJ DAR Resolutions Committee (2001-2003) and the NJ DAR Registration Committee (1985-1986). Marie was honored by the Department of Veterans Affairs for 10-plus years of volunteer service with the Lyons V.A. Medical Campus in Basking Ridge, NJ. In the 1970s, among her many volunteer activities, she was a Girl Scout troop leader and served as president of the Summit Area Women’s Republican Club. In 1980, Marie participated in the Republican National Convention in Detroit as an alternate delegate from the state of New Jersey. Later in her life, Marie served for many years as director of religious education for Christ the King Church in New Vernon, NJ. Following the death of her first husband in 1996, she married B. Bryan Robertson in 1998 and moved to Basking Ridge, where they lived until his death in 2013. Her final years were spent at Fellowship Village, where she made many cherished friendships and continued her volunteer pursuits. Marie loved joining friends in games of bridge, spending summer days at the New Jersey shore, preparing elaborate dinners for friends and family on special occasions, enjoying precious time with her grandchildren, and always looking on the bright side of life. She is survived by her loving daughters, Irene E. Kelly, M.D., of Oakland, CA, and Mary-Frances Faraji of West Covina, CA; seven grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, and six godchildren, whom she adored. She was predeceased by her first husband, Robert Alan Kelly; her second husband, B. Bryan Robertson; her son, John Becker Kelly; and her brothers, Julius A. Becker, Jr., and P. Carey Becker. Services were handled by Gallaway & Crane Funeral Home. For more information or to leave an online condolence for the family, please see their website @ www.gcfuneralhome.com In lieu of flowers, please remember Marie in your prayers and do one thing to make the world a better place. A remembrance of her life will be held at a future date in better times.