Kelly Kay Folkerts

Kelly Kay Folkerts, of Richmond, TX, passed away on Tuesday, July 25, 2023, after a courageous battle with cancer under the care of UnityPoint Hospice.

Kelly Kay Shippy was born on July 16, 1968, in Waterloo, the only child of Gary and Carol (Richey) Shippy. Kelly was raised in Waterloo and graduated from Waterloo West High School in 1987. She attended Waterson College in California and earned her medical assistant certificate. Kelly worked briefly in California before returning to Iowa, where she took nursing classes at Hawkeye Community College.

On October 10, 1992, she had her first date with Eric Folkerts at OP in Evansdale. They got married on April 16, 1994, in Reinbeck. On November 13, 1997, they were blessed with a set of twins, Jacob Dean and Taylor Anne.

In 1998, they moved to Katy, TX, where Kelly worked at Cinco Ranch High School as a paraprofessional. They moved to Atchison, KS, in 2007 where Kelly worked as a medical assistant instructor. The longing for warm weather took them back to Texas in 2011 where they settled their family in the Richmond, TX area. For the last six years Kelly worked at San Jacinto Community College as a medical assistant instructor.

Kelly had a great love for family. Her children were the focal point of her life, and nothing brought her more joy than spending time with them. Kelly had a very funny personality and would often be heard saying "I'm cracking myself up". Her family and friends remember her as being thoughtful and often putting others before herself. Kelly was brutally honest and her stares or looks would be all the words you needed. She was an avid baseball fan, cheering on her favorite teams the Cubs and Astros. Kelly loved to dance and sing along to the radio, read horror or mystery books, and watch crime shows and Hallmark movies. She could also be found doing crafts, her favorite were door wreaths.

Kelly is survived by her husband, Eric; son, Jacob Folkerts of Cedar Falls; daughter, Taylor Folkerts (long-time boyfriend Jacob Schwab) of San Diego, CA; parents, Gary and Carol Shippy of Sumner, IA; parents-in-law, Darrell and Elaine Folkerts of Dike, IA; brothers- and sisters-in-laws, uncles and aunts, cousins, nieces and nephews, and her best friend, Michele Wetzel. Kelly was preceded in death by maternal and paternal grandparents.

Memorial Services 10:00 am, Friday, July 28, 2023, Locke at Tower Park, 4140 Kimball, Ave, Waterloo. A private burial with immediate family will be at Wadena Cemetery. Memorials may be directed to the family or consider a donation to SIRE Therapeutic Horsemanship in Kelly's honor. Locke at Tower Park, 319-233-3146, is assisting the family.