Bobby Eugene Kelley, 78

 

Graveside services for Bobby Eugene Kelley, 78, of West Plains, were held May 6, 2023, at the Isabella Cemetery in Isabella with Jimmy Kyle officiating. 

He died May 2, at Ozarks Health Care in West Plains. He was born on June 12, 1944, to Herman Kelley and Rozella (Edwards) Kelley in Manila, Arkansas.

Bobby was the second oldest of 10 children. He learned early on that hard work was important and necessary. He left school in the eighth grade to work as a farm hand on the Perkins farm to help support his family.

In 1965, he was drafted by the United States Army to fight in the war in Vietnam. He later met his first wife Patricia Ann Walker and the two were married in 1966. Bobby and Patricia had three children before her passing in 2012.

In 2016, Bobby married his childhood friend Slutie Christine Jones in West Plains.

Bobby took advantage of living in the Ozarks and enjoying fishing, hunting and frog-gigging. He had an affinity for the character Clem KadiddleHopper from the Red Skelton Show.

He enjoyed the Fourth of July and setting off fireworks with his family as well as an annual trip to the Gainesville square for Hootin and a Hollarin.

Bobby will truly be missed by all of those who knew and loved him.

Bobby is survived by his wife Slutie Christine (Jones) Kelley; his children: Marcy Lynn White and Carrie Sue Kelley; stepchildren: Merlin Diter and Pamela Sue Quinn; grandchildren: Callen, Heather, Chelsea, Christopher, Garland Jr, Ross Jr. and Desiree; sister Josa Eileen (McCullough) Richards and Michael McCullough.

He was preceded in death by his parents Pleasant McCullough and Rozella McCullough; his son Robert Wayne Kelley; first wife Patricia Ann (Walker) Kelley; brothers, Palmer Lee Kelley, Leonard William McCullough, Jimmy Ray McCullough, Randel Hestal McCullough and three triplet brothers; and brothers-in-law Danny Hill and Woody Richards; and his first in-laws Mr. and Mrs. Walker.

Arrangements are under the direction of Clinkingbeard Funeral Home, Gainesville.

Ozark County Times

504 Third Steet
PO Box 188
Gainesville, MO 65655

Phone: (417) 679-4641
Fax: (417) 679-3423