Obituary of Kelly Ranae Maurer

Kelly Ranae Maurer lost her battle with cancer on August 27, 2014. She was born on November 7, 1968 in St. Louis, MO, the daughter of Brenda and Tommy Archer of Raytown, Missouri. She is survived by her husband Douglas Maurer, and her two sons Landon Maurer and Mitchell Maurer, of Herndon, VA; her loving mother Brenda (Brewer) Archer, her father Tommy Archer, of Raytown, MO, her sister LaDonna Miles, also of Raytown, MO, her two children and two grandchildren, and her brother Jeffrey Archer and his two children. Also, surviving are the extended families of Maurer's, Archer's and Brewer's that all loved her deeply. There are too many friends to list by name that loved her and would also call her a sister. Kelly was a graduate of Joplin Senior High School in 1987. Her career began as a civilian working for the U. S. Army and spent 4 years in Heidelberg, Germany working as a protocol officer. She returned to the United States and relocated to the Washington DC area in 1996 to begin her career with DARPA, an agency that she obliged throughout her 17 year career operating as a Budget Analyst, Assistant Director for Program Management and a Program Analyst. She held close, a sense of pride for her organizations mission and endeared friendships that developed throughout her profession. Kelly's passions outside of work were theatre, music, specifically singing, and her children. Her valuable contributions included musical theatre in Germany, friends and family weddings and birthday engagements. During a 3-year period from 2007-2010 when her family relocated to Mechanicsburg, PA, she volunteered at a musical theatre to stay close to her passion. However, her greatest reward was sharing her love of music through singing to her children from birth up to her passing. She played piano at home and loved listening to her children as they developed a shared interest to play and sing. She sang the Celine Dion song "Beautiful Boy" to both of her infant children every night. Her musical talent brought many to tears with her wonderful voice, and the legacy of her talent will continue to extend through her children. She met her soul mate, her husband, Douglas Patrick Maurer, in Dewey Beach, DE in the summer of 1999. In her own words, told to many, she "picked him up in a bar" and the rest was history. They married in May, 2002. They started a family a year later when she gave birth to the first of her two beloved boys, Landon Archer Maurer. A year later in 2004 she gave birth to their second son, Mitchell Douglas Maurer. Kelly was diagnosed with Stage IV Triple Negative breast cancer in September 2012. While Doug and Kelly were both devastated, Kelly made it very clear from day 1 that this disease would not impact her daily life, and she would fight it with everything she had. Just as she said, she fought the cancer every minute of every hour of every day from that day through the date of her passing. She endured multiple surgeries, whole brain radiation, multiple CyberKnife procedures, and ongoing chemotherapy. She never allowed the cancer to take control of her daily life. She refused to accept that cancer would win and would not allow others to treat her any differently because of this disease. She was an unbelievable woman and her feisty personality, and wondrous spirit will live on well beyond her time here on earth. She touched many and the world lost a true angel when Kelly left this world to be with her Lord and Savior. She was a dear friend to any and all that knew and loved her. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to: The Kelly Maurer Memorial Fund, c/o M&T Bank, 12170 Sunset Hills Road, Reston, VA 20190 (703) 435-2249. The fund will be used to make donations on an annual basis to charities close to Kelly's heart including Life with Cancer, Doorways for Women and Families, and to assist children of families who have lost parents to cancer. If needed, funds may be used to assist in financing the college education of her beloved boys Landon and Mitchell.