Bobby Wayde Kelley, 70, retired owner of B&W Painting, long-time employee of Stauffer Chemical Company and resident of Columbia, passed away Tuesday, February 6, 2018, at Maury Regional Medical Center.
Funeral services will be conducted Friday at 2:00 P.M. at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home with Randy McNeece and Jeremy Alsup officiating. Burial will follow in Polk Memorial Gardens with military honors provided by the Herbert Griffin American Legion Post 19. The family will visit with friends Thursday from 4:00 P.M. -8:00 P.M. and Friday from 12:00 P.M. until service time at the funeral home. Condolences may be extended online at www.oakesandichols.com.
Born June 20, 1947 in Santa Fe, he was the son of the late Howard Kelley and the late Mary Loraine Gilmore Kelley. He attended Hay Long High School and was drafted into the United States Army in 1966. He served in the Vietnam War as a machine gunner during the Junction City II Mission which ended with a major victory for the South Vietnamese, and he was awarded the Vietnam Campaign Medal with device for support of operations in Vietnam. While serving in the US Army he was awarded two Bronze Star medals for his heroic and meritorious achievements and services in a combat zone. He held the combat Infantry Badge, the highest award made by an infantry division.
Bobby returned home from war in December 1967 and on January 6, 1968 he married the love of his life, Kathy Wright Kelley, and they shared 46 years together until her death April 24, 2014. He was a loving husband, daddy, and granddaddy. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, and was an avid UT fan.
Survivors include his daughter and son-in-law, Leigh Ann Fletcher and Chad Fletcher of Columbia; his one and only grandson who was his pride and joy, Brett Kelley of Columbia; brothers, Dwight Kelley, Michael (Joyce) Kelley, and Randy Kelley, all of Columbia; sister, Brenda Kay (Duran) Shults of Ethridge; special uncle and aunt, A.D. Gilmore and Birdie Gilmore of Georgia; and several brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nieces, and nephews.
In addition to his wife and parents, he was preceded in death by a brother, Joe Kelley.
Active pallbearers will be Terry Kelley, Marty Lovett, Jeremy Grooms, Jamie Grooms, Adam West, and David Bailey. Honorary pallbearers include Zeke Maddox, employees of Columbia Paint and Wallpaper, Randy McBroom, Employees of Parish Lumber, and all of his card playing buddies.
