Kelly Lynn Gilliland

Kelly Lynn Gilliland was born September 28,1957 to Darl Kay and Lila Jane Stites in Chicago, IL. At age three the family moved to San Diego. Then, subsequently to Atlanta and Los Angeles due to her father’s business assignments. She graduated from Rolling Hills High School (L.A. area) in 1975 and then attended Cal State Sacramento. Kelly soon transferred to Cal State Dominguez Hills where she graduated in 1981 obtaining both a bachelor’s degree in health science and earning her RN at the same time.

Her nursing career was vast! She started her career in the emergency room, then home health care, case management, utilization review and discharge planning. This vivacious, accomplished and caring woman began her career in Manhattan Beach, CA, living in a house right on the Strand just steps from the sandy beach. 

In her early adult life, she had a love of horses and rode English while participating in horse shows; basking in the summer sun on the beach with her friends was a favorite pastime, as well as getting into games of beach volleyball. She was athletic, oftentimes bragging about her accomplishments of being the quarterback of her college flag football team. She also played in coed softball games and she really loved her fantasy football leagues. Kelly was a frequent visitor to Steve’s parents’ home, often seeing Steve on weekends when he was home from the Air Force. Friendship quickly grew to serious dating in 1985. In six months, they were engaged and wed in April 1986. The young couple purchased their first home in Chino, CA. After 2 years, Kelly and Steve purchased a larger home in Upland, CA to start their family. Lauren was born in 1989 and Lindsay in 1993. This family of 4 would go on to be a tight knit foursome, including daily group text messaging of all the latest happenings. Not a day passed without the four texting among themselves.

Kelly had a strong desire to raise her family in the Heartland. After an exhaustive multi-year research project, they decided to move to Kansas City in 1996. She always claimed KC was a hidden gem. Shortly after moving to KC, Kelly started her Mary Kay cosmetics business that lasted for ten years. She continued to use those products to this day. Kelly was always known as a beauty, both inside and out.

Family was everything to Kelly and she was very involved with her two daughter’s activities throughout the years. Daisies, Brownies, school events, violin concerts and countless softball games to name a few. Boating and waterskiing was a major part of her life, with the family enjoying 35 years of visiting lakes in California, Nevada, Arizona, Kansas, Oklahoma, Illinois, and just recently purchasing a new boat (aptly named Second Act in honor of their next chapter of boating with the grandchildren) and a vacation home at Lake of the Ozarks in Missouri.

And she truly loved being a Grammie to her three granddaughters Mila, Callie and Ellie. She was constantly thinking of fun goodies to send them as care packages. Kelly’s face always lit up whenever she got to see them.

Kelly was a lover of life and all good things. She looked forward to going to movie theatres weekly, especially to enjoy her popcorn and Diet Coke! She was a resolute viewer of Hallmark movies on TV, sometimes having the Hallmark channel playing 24 hours a day!

Kelly was also an avid Chiefs fan and never missed watching a game. During one hospital stay, she even requested an early discharge so she could make it home in time to watch the Chiefs play that afternoon.

Kelly was a joy to be with and was loved by all. Sadly, she passed unexpectantly from uterine cancer October 10, 2024. She will be missed, but her light will always remain in the hearts of her loved ones.

Kelly is preceded in death by her parents Darl Kay and Lila Jane Stites, as well as her brother Kevin Leigh Stites. She is survived by her husband, Steve Gilliland; daughter and son-in-law Lauren and Jeremy Commisso; daughter and son-in-law Lindsay and Trevor Wiest; her granddaughters Mila and Ellie Commisso, Callie Wiest and soon to be two grandsons. Mother-in-law Doris Roha; sister-in-law Gail Haggerty; sister-in-law Anita Bauer (Tom); brother-in-law Don Gilliland; nephew Dennis Moore; niece Leslie Taborga (Eric); nephew Scott Bauer; nephew Michael Gilliland (Danielle); niece Sheena Green (Paul); great nephews, great nieces and numerous very special cousins in Nebraska and Iowa.