KELLEY, S. Merrill 1916-2005

KELLEY, BOHL, TYRRELL, BURNS

Posted By: County Coordinator
Date: 2/28/2009 at 10:36:33

S. Merrill Kelley

OSAGE, IOWA — S. Merrill Kelley, age 88, of Osage, died on Saturday, June 25, 2005, at the Mitchell County Regional Health Center-Hospice Unit in Osage.

Merrill was born on October 11, 1916, in Osage, the son of Benjamin "Frank" and Ellen (Bohl) Kelley. He attended school in Osage and graduated from Osage High School in 1933.

Merrill was united in marriage to Helene Tyrrell on June 14, 1936, in Osage. She died in 1945. Merrill served in World War II with the 1st Battalion, 32nd Infantry Regiment from 1944 to 1945.

Merrill was united in marriage to Bernice Burns on Jan. 1, 1947, in Oelwein. Bernice died in 2002.

Merrill owned and operated Kelley's Stand, a produce market, from 1950 to 1961. He owned and operated Kelley's Realty for many years. He worked for the Osage Chamber of Commerce, and was a manager at Sunny Brae Golf Course.

He was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Osage, the Osage Chamber of Commerce, Osage Rotary Club, and Sunny Brae Country Club and Golf Course. Merrill was also a life member of the Osage American Legion Post 278, and served on the Osage City Council. Many children in Osage referred to him as "Grandpa."

One of his hobbies was golf, and he was a golf instructor at North Iowa Area Community College for several years and taught a number of people in the area how to golf. He enjoyed writing, and for many years he wrote a weekly article called "Readers of the Fine Print" for the Mitchell County Press-News. Later in life, Merrill would winter in San Diego, Calif., and while there he was employed as a taxicab driver.

Memorial services will be held at 10 a.m. Friday at the First United Methodist Church in Osage, with the Rev. Dr. J. Samuel Subramanian and Lay Pastor Gary Gilbert officiating. A time of fellowship with friends and family will follow the service at the church.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to the First United Methodist Church, Hospice of North Iowa, or the donor's choice.

He is survived by a daughter, Margery Johnsten and husband Richard of Great Falls, Mont.; a son, Merrill F. "Skip" Kelley and wife, Dee Dee of San Diego, Calif.; seven grandchildren; four great-grandchildren;

He was preceded by his parents; two wives; and one brother, Maurice Francis Kelley.

Champion-Bucheit Funeral Home, (641) 732-3706

[Globe Gazette - June 28, 2005]