Kenneth ‘Chick’ Kelley
Kenneth “Chick” Kelley was born on April 6, 1933, in Rose Hill Community to Lloyd and Ona (Rackley) Kelley. He passed away on May 2, 2020, in Fort Smith, Ark. at the age of 87.
He married Freda Thompson on March 28, 1953. In their earlier years, they enjoyed traveling and camping and they visited all 50 states. Chick was a Korean War Veteran. After receiving his degree at Tulsa Business College, he worked as an accountant for Copeland Oil Company which later became Beach Oil Company, until his retirement.
He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Freda, of the home; one daughter, Debbie Crull and husband, Brent, of Fort Smith, Ark.; his granddaughters, Traci Snell and husband, Shawn, of Alma, Ark. and Dana Clark and husband, Jeff, of Van Buren, Ark.; his great-grandchildren, Caden and Ella Webb, Jack Snell and Caroline Clark; his brother, LC Kelley of Moreno Valley, Calif; his sister Yvonne Starnes of Grand Junction, Colo. and numerous nieces, nephews and friends.
Chick was preceded in death by his parents, Lloyd and Ona Kelley; his brothers, Herchel and Kay Kelley; and his sisters, Ila Latta, Loeta Raby and Faye Markham.
Chick served on various board, clubs and committees. He was a deacon at Perry Freewill Baptist Church since he was 29 years old and served as song leader and Sunday school teacher over the past 60 years. He was also a member of the Eureka Baptist Association. He was currently serving as president of the Cookson Hill Electric Board, which he had been a member of the past 25 years. He was also a member of the KAMO Electric Board and previous member of the OAEC Board. Chick also served on Farmers Union Board. Previous memberships include Stigler Round Up Club, Haskell County Hospital Board and Stigler Lions Club.
Chick loved gospel music and sang with the Matthews Brothers Gospel Bluegrass Band much of his life. They enjoyed playing at area nursing homes and various events like Reunion Days, as well as jam sessions at Rose Hill, The Eaton Hole, Kinta and Turkey Track. He played the mandolin, guitar and harmonica and gave guitar lessons through the Stigler Community School. His love of music carried on to his family and he loved singing with his daughter and granddaughters.
His other hobbies included camping, fishing, gardening, running cattle with his friend Ray Cloud, and going to the Stigler Sale Barn.
Viewing was held on Monday, May 4, 2020, from noon to 7 p.m. and on Tuesday, May 5, 2020, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Mallory Chapel in Stigler.
Funeral services were held on Tuesday, May 5, 2020, at 2 p.m. at Mallory Chapel in Stigler with the Rev. Darren Riddle officiating. Interment followed at Stigler City Cemetery under the direction of Mallory-Martin Funeral Home and Crematory of Stigler.
Pallbearers were Billy Tom White, Tucker White, Trent White, Gary Don White, Kevin Hendrix, Dallas Smith and David Owen.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Eureka Free Will Baptist Association or the Don W. Reynolds Support House in Fort Smith, Arkansas.