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Kelly Lencses-Stafford passed away Jan. 4, 2025, at Kavanaugh Hospice in Des Moines, after a courageous battle with cancer. No services are scheduled at this time. Online condolences can be left to the family at powersfh.com.
Kelly Chamille Lencses was born Jan. 29, 1970, to Kathleen Karen Yankton Lencses and Edward Joseph Lencses in Las Vegas, Nevada. She grew up in Lone Pine, California.
She met her husband, Jay Stafford, in 1987, and they moved to Denver, Colorado, that year. She and Jay had four children. The family moved to Iowa in 2005 and moved to Creston a few years later. Kelly worked at the Clearview Nursing Home in Clearfield and Mount Ayr. Even though she had her CNA, she preferred to work in the laundry, where she took pride in handling the residents’ belongings with great care to assure residents were happy with the results. Kelly was always the first to volunteer to take residents to appointments. Kelly spent many years as a Girl Scout Leader.
Kelly was a very private person and didn’t talk much about herself but would spend hours listening to others and making them feel important and loved. Even when she was very ill herself, she would help her friends whenever they needed her.
Kelly loved her dogs and horses. She nearly always had at least one horse in her care. She loved her children and grandchildren. She would be quietly pleased whenever Clayton or Autumn had their picture in the paper for their success in track and field.
She fulfilled some of her bucket list after she became ill and made trips with her mother, sisters and children. Her favorite trip was to New York City, New York, and most importantly visiting Niagara Falls. She even managed to make it across the Rainbow Bridge.
Kelly is preceded in death by her father; grandparents and brother, Brian Lencses.
She is survived by her husband, Jay Stafford of Creston; her daughters, Chamille Laymon (Gordon) of Des Moines and Autumn Stafford of Creston; her sons, Jeffrey and Clayton Stafford, both of Creston; her mother, Kathleen Jones; two sisters, Karen Vanderpool of Tennessee and Pamela Aydelott of Arizona; her brother, Kevin Corre; grandchildren; nieces and nephews.
Kelly will be missed mostly for her generous heart and her sparkling laugh. She was too young to be gone so soon. Until we meet again.