Howard E. KELLEY

KELLEY, HOUSTON, DECKER

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 9/8/2010 at 11:34:42

Herald & Review --Decatur, Illinois
July 31, 2005

May 17, 1915 --- July 29, 2005

OREANA, IL -- Howard E. Kelley, 90, of Normal, formerly of Oreana, died at 12:05am Friday 7-29-05 at BroMenn Regional Medical Center, Normal. His funeral will be Monday 8-1-05 9:30am at Carmody-Flynn Williamsburg Funeral Home and 10:00am at Epiphany Catholic Church, Normal with Rev. Monsignor Thomas Maloney officiating. Burial will be in Wiley Cemetery, Colfax. Visitation will be from 3:00-6:00pm Sunday 7-31-05 at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Clair House or the Joseph Kelley Education Fund c/o National City Bank.

He was born May 17, 1915 in Corwith, Iowa, the son of William and Elizabeth Houston Kelley. He married Bernice Decker December 17, 1957 in Springfield. She survives. Other survivors include his son, Kevin D. (Roberta "Bobbi") Kelley, Manteno; his grandson, Joseph Murray Kelley and one sister-in-law Lois Kelley, Gibson City. He was preceded in death by three sisters, Lily, Anna and Mae and six brothers, Dan, Pete, Tom, Paul and two at childbirth.

Howard worked for Steak-N-Shake from 1936 until 1950 when he opened Howard Kelley Food Shop, which later became Howard Kelley Catering. He also owned Reel Sound Hi-Fi Enterprises. He developed his own line of salad dressing which sold in stores throughout the area. Howard retired in 2002. He was one of the original organizers of the Corn Belt Horsemen’s Association and owned and showed five gaited horses. He enjoyed big band music and spending time with his family.