Nina Faye Kelly Dekich

Nina Faye Kelly Dekich passed away peacefully on October 9th in Auburn, Alabama, age 94.  Nina was born in her childhood home in Titus, Alabama, on July 25th, 1930, the first child of Audrey Harry Kelly and Lawrence Alexander Kelly.  She was nurtured and cherished by extended kin on both sides of the family who lived close by among the beautiful woods and creeks of Elmore County.  The family owned L.A. Kelly’s General Store across the street from their house, pasture, garden, orchard, and horse barn, along the path to the fishing pond and the shores of Lake Jordan, just up the hill from her spiritual home, Titus Baptist Church.  Sisters Annette and Ruth and brother Alex later completed the family.  Schooling at Sewell Memorial Elementary and Wetumpka High prepared her to enroll at Alabama College (now the University of Montevallo) in 1948, where she studied two years before transferring with her best friend Ella to Alabama Polytechnic Institute (now Auburn University).  There she pledged to Theta Upsilon sorority and majored in home economics.

 After graduating in 1952, Nina bought her first car and served the people of rural Alabama as an agent of the County Extension Service in both the northeastern and southeastern areas of the state.  While living in Florence, she met the love of her life and husband of 64 years, S. Eugene Dekich from Harvest, Alabama, an army veteran fresh off the front lines of the Korean War attending Florence State Teacher’s College (now the University of North Alabama) on the GI bill. Nina and Gene married in March 1954, Gene transferred to Auburn and they moved into an apartment in the Student Union Building where Gene worked as manager while earning his degree.  A daughter was born the next year.  Nina loved to tell the story about a surprised Dean Cater being awoken one night by the crying baby. 

A full time homemaker now, Nina, with daughter, son, and husband, moved to Cahaba Heights in 1960 for Gene to grow his insurance career in Birmingham. They settled in the area, making their last home in Indian Springs.  Nina was a dedicated wife, mother and grandmother, a woman of Christian faith, and a community volunteer.  A superb cook and happy hostess for Sunday School classes, friends, and family gatherings, Nina loved to read, travel, and indulge her talents in crafts and needle arts—sewing, knitting, embroidery and more.  She taught exercise classes with vigor in area churches, but her greatest passion, aside from her family, was leading the volunteers at the library of Dawson Memorial Baptist Church for 25 years.  Encouraging others, especially children, to read books filled her with purpose. A huge Auburn football fan, Nina (with Gene) was a loyal season ticket holder (on the 50 yard line) for decades.  Her favorite magazine was Southern Living.  She was kind, creative, hospitable, funny, and beloved by family and friends.

Preceded in death by her parents, her husband Gene and sister Annette Kelly Ray, Nina leaves behind her daughter Dianne Dekich McGee of Vestavia Hills, son Dr. Steven Eugene Dekich of Auburn, sister Ruth Kelly Sarris of Hoover, brother Lawrence Alexander Kelly II of Rockport, Texas, grandchildren Lt. Col. Lucian Dekich (USAF) of Abilene, Texas, Adam Dekich of Everett, Washington, Colin McGee of Mobile, Brenna McGee Radin of Winter Garden, Florida, and Dr. Andrew McGee of Lexington, Kentucky, thirteen great-grandchildren and nine nieces and nephews.  In her last years Nina often declared: “I’ve lived a good life.”  Indeed, she did, and she will be missed.

Nina Kelly Dekich will be buried with her husband, Lt. Col S. Eugene Dekich (USAR), at Alabama National Cemetery in Montevallo, at 11 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 18th, where family and friends will gather for a graveside farewell.  Anyone wishing to honor her memory may donate to a respected veteran’s aid organization, a nature conservation group, or to scholarship funds at Auburn University.