Nellie Ostwalt Kerley

June 8, 1932 - May 19, 2018 Nellie Etta Ostwalt Kerley, 85, of Statesville, went to be with the Lord on Saturday, May 19, 2018 at Gordon Hospice House. Nellie was born June 8, 1932 in Iredell County to the late Gray Bynum Ostwalt and Jessie Mae Lippard Ostwalt. Nellie worked as a nurse at Davis Hospital for many years. In her free time, she loved cooking and gardening. Nellie was a devout Christian lady who loved the Lord above all in her life. She was a lifelong member of Bethel Baptist Church. Her passion was to preach the gospel and share her testimony with others. She ministered at the Baptist Center, served as the Chaplain Assistant for Iredell Memorial, ministered to truck drivers, and taught Sunday School at Brookdale Peachtree. Having led over 3,000 people to the Lord, Nellie was truly a saint with a servant’s heart. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her beloved husband in 1994, Samuel Luyer Kerley; infant sons, Billy Lynn Kerley and Terry Luyer Kerley; sisters, Mary Munday and Rachel Moss, and brothers, William Ostwalt, David Ostwalt, Albert Ostwalt, and Frank Ostwalt. Those left to cherish her memory are her daughter, Wanda (Gary) Cornett; sisters, Myrtle (Ross) Freeze, Mildred Elliot and Dessie Campbell; brother, Lathan (Elaine) Ostwalt; grandchildren, Chasity (Sean) Turner and Nick (Karen) Cornett; great-grandchildren, Kelsey Deletorre (Mario), Justice Millsaps (USMC), Jayden Turner, Sam Cornett, Charleston Cornett, and three great-great grandchildren, Rylei, Mario, and Elena. The family will receive friends at Troutman Funeral Home Chapel on Wednesday, May 23, 2018 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. The funeral service will be held at Bethel Baptist Church on Thursday, May 24, 2018 at 11:00 a.m. with Rev. Dr. David Troutman officiating. Interment will immediately follow the service at Iredell Memorial Gardens. In lieu of flowers, donations in Nellie’s memory may be made to Gordon Hospice House 2341 Simonton Road, Statesville, NC 28625. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.troutmanfuneralhome.com. Troutman Funeral Home is entrusted with the arrangements for Nellie Kerley.