Mrs. Keri Ann Strange, age 46 of Woodstock, died August 2, 2014. After 26 years of fighting cancer Keri has gone on to be with her beloved Molly (dog) and brother John Charles Kish, and her four grandparents. She leaves behind her husband Charles, dogs Bleu, Lola, and Gigi, cat Mister and bird Maggie Pea Pie. She also is survived by parents, John David Kish and Arlene Demty Kish; a sister; four nieces, Zoe, Madison, Codi and Hannah. She has nephews by marriage, Daniel and Steven. Keri was a life long animal lover/advocate. Devoutly committed to her family, she loved those unconditionally that she let in her close circle. She struggled with all the hardships for her family and animals. Married for 11 years, she found peace to go the The Rainbow Bridge where Molly awaits, red ball in mouth. A memorial service will be held at 11:30 AM on Wednesday, August 6, 2014 at Arlington Memorial Park in Sandy Springs.

Keri was born in Providence, RI on April 19, 1968 to John Kish and Arlene Demty Kish on April 19, 1968. This Navy family moved around but landed a few years in Jacksonville, FL before settling down in the Atlanta suburbs where Keri attended Lassiter High School and Georgia State University. She had a brother, John and a sister, going into 1989. She was competitive in gymnastics and softball, and a lover of muscle cars from the days with Dad. That explains the heavy foot and speeding tickets.

In 90 days her whole life would change. In May 1989 she was diagnosed with her first cancer, Hodgkin's Lymphoma, which required heavy doses of radiation that would later be the cause of her passing in her sleep. This was how she wanted to go; at home in her bed with dogs and husband right there, just go to sleep and not wake up, peacefully. The story has more tragedy; on July 9, 1989 her brother John passed away in an auto accident, and the next day or two she started her treatments for cancer. She withdrew from school as this was just too much to shoulder and she had to get well to save her own life.

She spent next 14 years as a business office manager, where I happen to meet my future wife. Long story short - our moms were good friends for years as nurses, Arlene needed help, and I had grown up working in a doctor's office, so I went to work and met Keri. We became friends but knew it was more, and after one kiss, my heart was hers. This year 1998 started 16 more with 11 years as married couple. No kids, just our dogs which brings me to Molly. Molly was her heart and soul, more everything than life was in their love, it was unconditional and as committed as any human could dream of sharing. She stayed 14 years and her passing was something Keri never recovered from; she cried until the last few days for the angel that awaits her at the Rainbow Bridge. Molly will rest in peace with her Moma here today. We did fun things like trips to Cape Cod, Massachusetts, where her family has homes, and her being in what she considered her summer home for most of her life was priceless. We went to baseball games, and one in Flea where Cal Ripken was, and to get the autograph I ended up spilling all of a beer on her. Yes, she was mad, but the next day kind of laughed it off.

Our family ended up being 3 dogs, Bleu, Lola and her dog Gigi; with a cat, Mister and African Grey Maggie Pea Pie. She was tired of the battle and ready to go to see Molly. She fought as long as her heart allowed and she went in her own bed with husband and dogs right there, no pain and suffering, peacefully in her sleep.