Obituary

Kelli Ann (Tuley) Welch, age 56, passed away peacefully on June 27, 2026 at St. Luke’s Hospice House in Kansas City, Missouri surrounded by her family and loved ones. Her departure followed a brief but severe series of health complications.

Kelli was born in Oxnard, California. She lived in Oregon and North Dakota, and in 1982 she moved with her family to Lee’s Summit, the town she would proudly call home for the rest of her life. She graduated from Lee’s Summit High School in 1988, but had already started her career at 16 years old working for the City of Lee’s Summit as part of a high school work study program. A quick learner and a hard worker, Kelli was promoted several times in her career, working for the Finance Department, acting as Deputy City Clerk, and working in the City Administration office. Kelli’s work on the Vehicle Replacement Program, which manages the fleet of city vehicles, was highly revered and served as a model for other municipalities across the nation. Opportunities at the City allowed Kelli to use her creativity and develop her skills in graphic design which she used to support city communication in print and electronic media and to advertise special events. Kelli took great satisfaction in her job and worked for the City until her departure in 2024.

One of the greatest joys of her life was being a mother to two wonderful children, Kiana Rhodes (born June 1991) and Blaine Welch (born May 1998). That love was compounded with the arrival of her grandchildren. “Nana K” doted on Kiana’s four children, Rylan, Cora, Axyl and Sutton, and she was blessed to have met Blaine’s one year old daughter, Sophia who visited recently from Germany where Blaine is stationed in the Air Force.

Kelli had a vibrant energy and loved spending time with her friends. She and her fiance, Dan, who she met in late 2023, enjoyed live music and followed Dan’s bands in the local music scene. Kelli enjoyed planting flowers and vegetables, raising chickens and especially loved the beach and all things summertime.

Kelli is survived by her mother, Myrna Tuley, her sister Joelle Bowen (husband David); her fiance Dan Strack; her children Kiana and Blaine and her five beloved grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her father, William Tuley.

Kelli’s absence in the lives of those who loved her will be felt deeply. A visitation and service to honor her life will be held at Langsford Funeral Home in Lee’s Summit, Missouri on July 16, 2026 from 5-7 pm with a service at 7 p.m.