James K. Kelley, 79, LaHarpe, died Thursday, Feb. 7, 2013, at Neosho Memorial Regional Medical Center in Chanute.
Jim was born Jan. 2, 1934, in Marshall, Ark., the son of Coy Duncan and Okla Hester (Jackson) Kelley. He grew up at Marshall, Ark. and later in Shawnee, Okla. He enlisted in the U.S. Army for two years and then served in the U.S. Air Force in Korea and Vietnam.
On Jan. 16, 1951, James married Mignonette L. Schmitt in Roseville, Calif. He was a master machinist and master mechanic. They moved to Kansas where he operated a gas station at Williamsburg until purchasing the Phillips 66 Station at Moran which he operated from 1980 until 2000.
He was a member of the Moran American Legion and Masonic Lodge.
He is survived by his wife wife of 62 years, Mignonette Kelley; three children, Bryan Kelley and wife, Tina, Piqua, Debra Gail Kelley, Iola, and Jolene Louise King and husband, Steven, Oklahoma City, Okla.; one brother, Coy Kelley, Shawnee, Okla.; one sister, Dorothy Parkin, Ottawa; 14 grandchildren and 22 great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by two sons, James Dennis Kelley and Carlos Coy Kelley, daughter Teresa Lee Barber, infant sister Betty Sue and brother Johnny Coy Kelley.
Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m., Tuesday at Waugh-Yokum & Friskel Chapel in Iola.
Graveside services will be at 2 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 16, at Hope Cemetery in Ottawa.
Memorial choice is LaHarpe Baptist Mission and can be left with Waugh-Yokum & Friskel Memorial Chapel of Iola, which is in charge of arrangements.
Online condolences for the family may be left at www.iolafuneral.com.
James Kelley
