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Ilean Patricia Kelly Green(Pat)A joyous Heavenly Reunion happened on Dec. 22, 2011 when our precious mother, Pat Green, was welcomed back into the arms of her Heavenly Father, her beloved parents, her loving husband, and her many friends and family who preceded her into the next estate. She was 90 years old and a member of the LDS Church. Pat was born on March 14, 1921 to John Leo Kelly and Carmen Guevara Mejia in Tucson, Arizona. John (a railroad man), who spoke little Spanish and Carmen, who spoke little English, settled in Sacramento, Calif. with their three daughters. In 1933, the height of the Great Depression, Pat's Daddy died. For many families of this era, life was difficult and uncertain, more so for Pat and her little family. Lessons of charity, thrift, determination, and hard work were learned early in Pat's life. By the time she graduated from Sacramento High School, Pat had turned into a raven-haired beauty. Popular and personable, she developed a lifelong quality of making friends easily. During WWII, Pat worked at McClellan AFB and became engaged to be married to a local young man from Sacramento. One evening, she and several friends were listening to a soldier playing the piano at a local dance. She was approached by a handsome young pilot, 1st Lieutenant Keith Charles Green of Salt Lake City, Utah. He brazenly proclaimed, "You are the girl I'm going to marry." After a brief courtship and a briefer fistfight, Keith and Pat eloped and were married on June 13, 1943 in Del Rio, Texas, while Keith was enroute to his next duty station. In 1945, Keith returned home from China-India-Burma. They settled in Salt Lake City where she gave birth to five sons. In 1959, the family moved to Brea, Calif. and welcomed Pat's two beautiful young nieces into the household of boys. There was always something going on at the Green's house. Keith and Pat kept the kids busy with countless activities such as Scouts, sports, Judo, Hula dancing, raising horses, numerous pets, trips to Disneyland, the beach, and various school and church activities. Grandma Kelly moved in and she helped keep the house in one piece while imparting her sweet and gentle spirit to the general chaos of living in a small home filled with kids. Pat and Keith joined and led several civic organizations such as the Women's Club, American Legion, Rotary Club, and an assortment of local festivities. Pat also organized and directed the California 29th District American Legion Drill Team and Drum Corps, which participated in several parades throughout the L.A. area. Keith and Pat always found something for the family to do, whether it was cooking, cleaning, or baling hay for the horses. They relocated to Utah in 1976 and continued an active life together. Our family didn't own much and often lived on a shoestring, but we will forever cherish her priceless gifts of faith, honor, loyalty, kindness, and unconditional love. We, her children, could not have chosen a finer set of parents to teach us how to deal with life's triumphs and tragedies. Mom always found a way to make sure that each of us had a little something extra under the Christmas tree. During her later years, her pride and joy were her grandchildren. She was always thrilled to see them. The many stories we share of our lives together as a family are sentimental festivals filled with love and laughter. Each of us will look forward to a joyous Heavenly Reunion of our own. Pat is survived by her sons, Keith Jr. (Sherry), Kevin, Bill, Kelly, and Lamont; special nieces, Cindy (Dwayne), and Francine (Steven); sister, Josephine; twenty-three grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren; and several nephews, nieces, and in-laws. She was preceded in death by her husband; parents; sister, Vera; and granddaughter, Chental. A memorial service will be held Thursday, Dec. 29, at 11 a.m. at Goff Mortuary, 8090 S. State St., Midvale, Utah, with a viewing beginning at 10 a.m. All family and friends are welcome. She will be laid to rest with her husband at the Utah Veterans Memorial Cemetery, 17111 S. Camp Williams Rd., Bluffdale, Utah. www.goffmortuary.com

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