Ronald Oakland Kelly

Ronald Oakland Kelly was born to Alice Permelia Kirby and Oakland Gardner Kelly on October 2, 1934 in Boise, Idaho. He passed away on November 7, 2019 in Las Vegas Nevada due to the complications of Alzheimer’s. He was the youngest of four siblings- Richard Kelly, Nancy Smithers, and Shirley Kelly. He loved them dearly.

He is survived by Danny Kelly (deceased), Kim Harkins (Richard), Kerry Kelly, Kristy Kearney (Mike), Kory Kelly (Kathy), Jana Rivard (Alain), Jim Marshall (Claudia), and Jillian Marshall. He has 18 grandchilden and 18 great-grandchildren.

He married Lynne Kelly on May 18, 1956, and they were married 17 years. He was married to Joan Willis, and then married the love of his life, Barbara Seeley on June 16 1990, and then they were sealed for time and all eternity in the Los Angeles Temple. Together they had a loving and fun life, traveling, attending Kiwanis meetings, and had a wonderful time being Mr. and Mrs. Clause’s special helpers during the holidays.

He spent a large portion of his childhood summers with his grandmother, Sarah Bryant Kelly, at her farm in Mountain Home, Idaho. He would come home from his summers at her house without his glasses. He would tell her that he had misplaced them, when in fact, he had thrown them in the wheat thrasher.

He worked for the Jewel Tea Home Shopping Service company as a delivery man, then started working for McCleod Mortuary in Escondido California. There, he found that his passion was helping people through the grieving process. He went on to earn a degree in Mortuary Science, and then returned to work at various mortuaries, including McCleod, Lakeside Santee Funeral Chapel, and ended his career at Eternal Hills Mortuary in Oceanside California.

He served as a Marine in the military, and was stationed in Yuma Arizona, Jacksonville Florida, and ended his service in Santa Ana California.

He loved putting together trains, watching sports, playing softball, fishing, dancing and singing. He was chosen to be in the choir for the dedication of the San Diego Temple in 1993 for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. He had a great love for animals of every kind. If they needed a home, or were injured in any way, he was going to take care of it. Some of those pets included, Brown Toes, Brownie, Nicky, Marge, Copper, Happy, Rosie, Krista, Teddy and Fudgy. His best friend while they were both alive, and the one we are most certain he is reunited with again, is Tommy Wilson (TW).

He was involved in many charitable organizations, Kiwanis being the one he was most involved in, where he served in many leadership capacities, his final leadership role being lieutenant governor.

As his children, we would say that his greatest achievements were his service to his country and his community. He loved a perfectly organized garage, and had a baby food jar organization that he created himself. He was a man before his time.

We want to thank all his homecare workers (Brenda Hollingsworth, Shirley Baldrip, Ashley Miller, Monica Ford, Adelina and Rose) for their love and compassion, and for all those that cared for him at Pacifica San Martin Legacy Memory Care.

The memorial service will be held November 16, 2019 at 11:00 at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, located at 9825 West Desert Inn Road, Las Vegas, NV 89117, with a viewing from 10:00 to 11:00. Interment will be held at a later date at Southern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Boulder City, Nevada. Arrangements by Palm Southwest Mortuary, Las Vegas, Nevada