Shermalyn Fowler Kelce

Shermalyn Fowler Kelce, 85, of Charleston, South Carolina, entered into eternal rest Monday, November 20, 2023. Her funeral service will be held Tuesday, December 12, 2023, in the J. Henry Stuhr Inc., Downtown Chapel, 232 Calhoun Street at 11:00 am.  Interment will follow the service in Mount Pleasant Memorial Gardens, 1308 Mathis Ferry Rd, Mt. Pleasant, SC.

Shermalyn was born February 20, 1938 in Cleveland, Tennessee, daughter of the late Roscoe Sherman Fowler and the late Paulyne Moore Fowler. She moved to Folly Beach as a young child, later moving to Charleston where she made cherished life long friends. Juvenile Jamboree was a weekend radio show she loved to attend and her love of music and dance continued throughout her life.

She went to St. Andrews High School and participated in cheerleading, dance, powderpuff football, and was Miss St Andrews. She also modeled for Krawchecks  downtown. Shermalyn was asked to participate in a public relations movie, for a waterski sequence, and was introduced to the love of her life, Lee Kelce. They married in Summerall Chapel in July of 1956.

The first of many moves took them first to Chicago then on to El Paso, Texas where Lee was on active duty. After their family returned to civilian life she supported her husband from home while taking care of their 3 children while he was on location with Peabody Coal in the mines of Missouri, Kansas and Indiana.

After Lee retired they returned to the Charleston area and a newly developing resort called Kiawah. At the time there were wild horses running free on the island and you put names in a hat to find out if you would be the lucky family who could build on one of the lots. They were early members of Kiawah Island Club and enjoyed 39 years there.

Shermalyn loved to be outdoors, loved every single living creature from spiders and snakes to the bobcats that lived under the house. She loved dancing (anytime she could), decorating, cooking and entertaining, deep sea fishing, waterskiing, skeet shooting, reading, exercise and gardening with a passion. She was a girl scout leader, active in the Charleston Garden Club, delivered Meals on Wheels for over 25 years, volunteered at Roper Hospital and over the years organized many club events and fundraisers back in Indiana. Travel was a passion Shermalyn shared with her husband, Lee, their three children and later their granddaughter. They were part of the People to People delegation to China.

She will be remembered for her beautiful smile, her dancing, and how very much she loved her family and friends.

She is survived by son, David S. Kelce of Charleston, SC; daughter, Denise F. Kelce of Charleston, SC; brother, John Fowler (Kathy) of Rincon, GA; and beloved granddaughter, Lynlee of Dallas, TX. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband of  62 years, Lee Richard Kelce, son, Ted R. Kelce, and brother, Robert Wilson Fowler.

Memorials may be made to The Citadel Brigadier Foundation Ted R. Kelce Memorial Scholarship, 171 Moultrie Street, Charleston, SC 29409.