Mr. Ray Kelley was born September 26, 1924 in Wayne County, TN the son of the late William Arthur and Caroline Vera Lay Kelley. Mr. Kelley worked the majority of his life as a farmer, living and working in the same community he was born. He proudly served his country in the United States Army where he received several different recognitions. He was united in marriage to the former Jewell Maxine Woodall on August 25, 1950. She preceded him in death after almost 67 years of marriage on March 26, 2017. He was a member of the Eastview Baptist Church in Waynesboro, Tennessee. Mr. Kelley departed this life on December 14, 2021 at his home in Waynesboro, Tennessee at the age of 97 Years, 2 Months, 18 Days.
He is survived by two sons, Rickey Kelley and wife Elgenia of Waynesboro, TN, Mark Kelley and wife Janice of Fairview, TN; four grandchildren, Josh Kelley and wife Holly of Lanesville, IN, Ben Kelley and wife Kimi Sue of Waynesboro, TN, Andrea Schoedel and husband Ben of Fairview, TN, Brent Kelley and wife Cessna of Fairview, TN; fifteen great-grandchildren, Chance, Reagan, Kenidy, Jackson, Liam, Samara, Saxon, Bannon, Roman, Sabella, Asher, Levi, Elias, Finley, and Wren.
In addition to his wife and parents, Mr. Kelley was preceded in death by five sisters, Robbie Bates, Mabel Devore, Ruth Fite Smith, Willie Blackwell, Dorothy Frances Pitts; and a brother, Alfred Earl Kelley.
Visitation will be held on Friday, December 17, 2021 from 11:00 AM until service time at 1:00 PM at Shackelford Funeral Directors in Waynesboro.
Services will be held on December 17, 2021 at 1:00 PM at Shackelford Funeral Directors at Waynesboro in Waynesboro, Tennessee, with John Blackwell and Brent Kelley officiating. Burial will follow in the Memorial Gardens, Waynesboro with Shackelford Funeral Directors assisting the family.
