Omer Burnett KELLEY, Jr.

KELLEY, FULLER, GIBSON, GARDNER, NELSON, ARMOUR, CRONK

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 3/1/2007 at 00:29:11

November 1, 2005

Omer B. Kelley, Jr., 84, long time resident of the Belmond Community Apartments, died on Monday, October 31, 2005, at the Belmond Medical Center. Funeral services will be held on Thursday, November 3, 2005, at 11:00 a.m., at the Belmond United Methodist Church, with Rev. Michael Druhl officiating. Visitation will be held on Wednesday from 4:30-7:00 p.m., at the Andrews Funeral Home and one hour prior to the services at the church. Full military honors will be provided by the Belmond Honor Guard.

Omer Burnett Kelley, Jr., was born on November 2, 1920 at Wellman, the son of Omer B. and Josephine Belle (Fuller) Kelley. He attended the Belmond Schools. He served in the United States Navy during World War II aboard three destroyers, including the USS Lewis Hancock and USS Upshur. Awards he received were one silver and one bronze star Asiatic Pacific; two bronze stars Philippine Liberation, Eur-African Ribbon and C.O. Commendation. Omer worked as a laborer, as a mechanic at Ed Kennedy's Garage, and at Central Soya and Acco Seed prior to retiring. Family was the number one joy in his life. His hobbies included Sunday afternoon fishing excursions to Clear Lake, hunting, gardening, making black powder guns, working puzzles, and following his favorite sports teams. He raised a large garden and was an excellent cook and baker. He had a passion for Nascar and enjoyed muscle cars and tinkering on cars. He held staunch Democratic beliefs. Omer was a life time member of the VFW and the Disabled American Veterans.

He was preceded in death by his parents; sisters, Helen and Violet; and brother, Lawrence. Survivors include his wife, Irene; son, Danny (Barb) Kelley of Somerset, Florida and their son, Scott; son, Joe (Marcia) Kelley of Norwalk and their children, John (Sherry) Kelley and Lisa (Lance) Gibson; son, Tim (Kelle) Kelley of Belmond and their children, Tony and his fiancée, Lacey, Nicole and Cole; daughter, Kathy (Steve) Gardner of Urbandale; daughter, Laurie (Dennis) Nelson of Belmond and their children, Jennifer (Mark) Armour and Josh Nelson; sister, Doris "Dee Dee" (Earl) Cronk; and great-grandchildren, Caleb, Sarah, Maranda, Zach, Lindsay, Cameron and Amara.

©Belmond Independent 2005