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Submitted: 4/26/24 • Approved: 4/26/24 • Last Updated: 4/29/24 • R1530100-G0-S3
Willie Claude
December 27, 1930 - March 17, 2012
Married October 1, 1955
Martha Sue
July 3, 1932 - December 2, 2014
Obituary
Jones-Hartshorn Funeral Home
Hamburg, Arkansas
Mr. Willie Claude Kelley, 81, of Hamburg, died Saturday, March 17, 2012 at the Ashley County Medical Center. Mr. Kelley was a native and life long resident of Ashley County and Hamburg. He graduated from Hamburg High School in 1949. He was employed by R.E.A Construction until he joined the United States Air Force on January 4, 1951. Following basic training, he was sent to Germany for three and a half years. In March of 1952, he was named "Airman of the Month" and in June of 1952, he was elected by officers and the men of his squadron "Airman of the Year" from among ten other "Airmen of the Month". His award for Airman of the Year was a plaque, a seven day furlough flying to Scotland, Ireland and England with all expenses paid and a letter of Commendation from the commanding officer. After his discharge from the Air Force, he attended the University of Arkansas at Monticello, then returned to Ashley Chicot Electric and worked until his retirement on December 22, 1989. He was a past president of the Ashley County Fair Board. He was a member of the First Baptist Church where he served on the building and grounds committee and Sunday school officer/money counter for many years. He was a frequent blood donor to the Crossett Health Center and gave approximately two gallons of blood over a period of several years. He was a regular Red Cross blood donor and gave a total of five gallons of blood. He loved deer hunting and gardening. He believed in hard work and that you should earn your keep by the "sweat of your brow." He loved Ashley County and Ashley County loved him. He wanted to live, work, and die in Ashley County. He was a devoted and loving husband, father and grandfather.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Arthur and Sallie Brooks Kelley.
He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Martha Scott Kelley of Hamburg; a son, Chris Kelley and wife, Connie, of Crossett; two daughters, Jana Evans and husband, Sam, Melinda Long and husband, Keith; a brother, Bobby Joe Kelley; a sister, Mary Ann White all of Hamburg; six grandchildren, Javan Long, Olivia Long, Myra Evans, Aubrey Evans, Garrett Kelley and wife, Cassie, and Nick Kelley and one great-grandchild, Tylasin Kelley.
Funeral services are 2 p.m., Monday, March 19, 2012 at the First Baptist Church with Dr. Bobby Pennington officiating. Burial will be in the Promise Land Cemetery. Pallbearers are Javan Long, Garrett Kelley, Nick Kelley, Chuck White, Terry Cain and Richard Shelton. Honorary pallbearers are the members of the Lee Kelley Deer Camp and the Carl Locke Sunday School Class. Memorials may be made to the First Baptist Church Building Fund, PO Box 352, Hamburg, AR 71646 or to the Promise Land Cemetery Association, c/o Ms. JoAnn Sullivan, 318 Ashley 131 Road, Hamburg, AR 71646.
Contributed on 4/26/24 by deltabelle55
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Record #: 1530100