We were deeply saddened to learn that calligrapher Kelle McCarter passed away last week. Kelle has worked with Bella Figura as a designer and calligrapher for years, and also developed two exclusive calligraphy fonts for our sister company, Smock. Kelle’s husband Shawn asked us to share her obituary with our community – Kelle was always so eager to learn about others, but rarely talked about herself. We hope those of you who are grieving Kelle’s loss along with us appreciate this glimpse inside her life.

On November 13, 2016 our world lost a beautiful and courageous spirit in Kelle Anne McCarter at the age of 51. She is survived by her husband, Shawn Wesley McCarter of Castle Rock, Colorado, and her parents Jerry Don and Judith Anne Mobley of Dewey, Arizona. She is also survived by Hallie Loy McCarter, Jamie and Margie McCarter and their family of Midland, TX and Kevin McCarter of Colonia del Sacramento, Uruguay – all who embraced her as their own. Kelle was born March 2, 1965 in Chicopee, Massachusetts and moved to Midland from Clovis, New Mexico in 1972. She won the Women’s West Texas golf tournament twice during her teens, a feat reserved to only a couple of future LPGA stars. Kelle graduated from Midland High School in 1983 and then attended New Mexico State on a golf scholarship where she was an All-American Scholar and she received her BA and MBA.

After university, Kelle went to work with her father and the PGA Tour to redesign the TPC golf course in Cromwell, Connecticut. With the completion of the redesign, Kelle and her father embarked on a 15 year project to develop the Sand Creek Country Club community and Coffee Creek Center in Chesterton, Indiana west of Chicago. The sustainable development of the Coffee Creek Center and restoration of Coffee Creek earned the honor of being selected as one of the top 24 developments in the world. During this time, Kelle was on the board of the Chicago Golf Association and was director of the Northern Amateur Golf Tournament which has produced several PGA tour players.

At her twentieth reunion at Midland High School, she reconnected with Shawn McCarter and they were married in September 2006 at the Denver Botanic Gardens. Friends and strangers alike observed the absolute devotion and love that Kelle and Shawn shared for each other. They embodied the idea of soul mates so many long for.

When Kelle moved to Denver, she began pursuing her other life-long interests of graphic design, the written word, designing paper goods, and calligraphy. She was an invitation designer and calligrapher for Bella Figura Letterpress and Crane Paper Company, and her work has been profiled in Martha Stewart Weddings magazine, People magazine, Inside Weddings, Brides magazine and Luxe interiors + design. She was a lifestyle contributor for REstyleSOURCE – a beautiful online design site in collaboration with Where Women Create magazine, supporting local shops and artists across the country. Kelle also published an art magazine called Paperswell: modern design ideas for paper goods and weddings to raise funds for the Golden Retriever Rescue of the Rockies.

Kelle was truly a renaissance woman, reveling in the outdoors, competing on the golf course, creating opportunities for others, starting businesses, helping others, supporting women-owned businesses, and collaborating with and supporting other artists in their pursuits. As a friend has stated so appropriately, “Heaven just became much prettier…I can’t wait to see what she does with the place.” Kelle was extremely passionate and caring for her “girls”, two rescued golden retrievers, and her deep friendships from childhood until now. She was a graceful, gracious, selfless and elegant soul as well as a true southern belle with a sharp wit, the vocabulary to match it, and a wonderful sense of humor.

Kelle’s ashes will be spread at their Colorado ranch in a small ceremony with family. If you care to share your comments about how Kelle touched your life, please use the hashtag #rememberingkelle on Instagram, or visit the MHS 83 Facebook page to join the hundreds of people in her wonderful circle.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making donations to the Golden Retriever Rescue of the Rockies  or your local First Tee Golf Program.