Kelly Bax Kaullen, 52, passed away peacefully on November 24, 2017. The Rosary will be prayed at 3:30 p.m. followed by Visitation from 4-8 p.m. on Thursday, November 30, at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church, 900 NE Shady Lane Dr., Kansas City, MO 64118. Family & friends will gather on Friday, December 1, at St. Charles Borromeo, where the Mass of Christian Burial will begin at 11:00 a.m. Burial will be at Resurrection Cemetery.

Kelly was born on February 12, 1965, in Kansas City MO, to Dan and Patsy (Kelly) Bax. She was a devout Catholic. Kelly worked at the Bank of America for 30 years. She was Sr. Vice President, Group Operations Manager. Kelly also obtained her nursing degree while raising her children so that she could better serve others. She worked part-time at the Blood Bank for many years.  Kelly dedicated her life to taking care of her family, especially her parents. She was passionate about helping others by volunteering at The Ronald McDonald House and other charitable organizations. These are the kind of things that gave her purpose and joy, because her needs were very simple. She led a very busy life, but always found time for everyone.

Kelly loved vacationing at the beach with her family and friends. It was the one week out of the year that she could relax and be free. While on vacation, she enjoyed cooking fabulous meals and creating amazing desserts, but always made sure she fed everyone before herself. With a smile on her face she would say "we will eat like kings" and they did. She really did not know how to relax, she would get up from her beach chair to go make meatball sandwiches for the cabana boys and bring them cold drinks. That was the kind of person she was. Her happiness was based on others enjoyment and she cherished this time with her husband, Jim, and her children. Kelly loved the peaceful feeling she had looking out over the ocean. It was her paradise and her passion to walk the white sand beaches. She did this for many years and still was so excited when she spotted the dolphins. She would call everyone out to come and see them.

Kelly was preceded in death by her father, Dan Bax; and her maternal and paternal grandparents.

Survivors include her husband of 31 years, Jim Kaullen; son and daughter-in-law Ryan and Olivia Kaullen; son, Josh Kaullen; daughter, Danielle Kaullen; brother, Daniel "Patrick" Bax; her beloved mother, Patsy Bax; brothers-in-law, Les Rupp and Ronnie Fernandez; sister-in-law Beverly Fernandez (Rupp); and many aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.

Pallbearers: Vincent Mussurici, Cody Lewis, Dominic Calabrese, Phillip Stewart, Vince Saladino, Aaron Reese, Andy Reese, Charley Bax Jr.

Honorary Pallbearers: Charles Bax, Bob Bax, Ralph Bax, David Bax, Ed Reese, Les Rupp, Ronnie Fernandez, Kyle Stanwick, Bob Nelson, Jim Williams.

Kelly was an angel on earth and now is an angel in Heaven. She will always be remembered for her passion of caring and serving others. She was so proud of her children, always pushing them to succeed and better themselves in school and their careers. Through all the adversity in her life, she made it a point to call everyone and ask how they were doing. She would always provide them with the positivity to overcome the challenges they faced that day. Kelly will continue her mission of helping others, but now it is a much bigger undertaking that God has called her to.  We will miss her smile, her kind heart, and will cherish her memories forever until we meet again.

Condolences may be offered at www.passantinobros.com.