Vernon Kelly

Vernon Kelly, a Pearl Harbor Survivor and long-time resident of Dallas, born in Shreveport, Louisiana on May 4, 1922, died on October 25, 2013 at home surrounded by his family and friends, at the age of 91. He was the fourth child of Irvin John Kelly and Melanie Celeste Rodrigue Kelly. Siblings who predeceased him are Eulalie Kelly Magee Husband, Noel Victor Kelly and Carl Patrick Kelly, and Irvin John Kelly, Jr. He is also predeceased by his two sons, Ricky Kelly and Johnnie "Nub" Kelly. Vernon attended schools in Pecos, Texas and Houma, Louisiana. After graduating from Longview High School in 1939, he attended the University of Texas at Austin. Degrees awarded were Bachelor of Business Administration, Bachelor of Laws and Doctor of Jurisprudence; and in 1972 he was admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of the United States. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy in July of 1941, and was serving aboard the light cruiser U.S.S. Honolulu (CL48) at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, during the Japanese attack on that base, and, fitting the occasion, he believed, he was in Tokyo Bay on September 2, 1945 and witnessed the surrender of Japan taking place aboard the battleship USS Missouri. He was immensely proud to serve his country in time of war and he was also very proud of the distinction of being among the very few service men to engage the enemy for more than a year in each of the major theaters of war, the Japanese in the Pacific and the Germans in the Atlantic. Following the war, Mr. Kelly practiced law as a sole practitioner until his retirement. He was later recognized by President George H. Bush for service at Pearl Harbor and by the State Bar of Texas for fifty years in the meritorious practice of law. Survivors include his wife, Sue, of Mesquite, two daughters, Martha Celeste Kelly Fleming of Amite, Louisiana., and Sandra Lynne Kelly of Grapevine, Texas, 2 grandchildren, Benson Kelly and Summer Naylor; two great grandsons, Cameron Naylor and Darren Kelly. He was our Hero! Family and Friends Visitation 10:30 to 12:00, Tuesday, October 29, 2013, at the funeral home. Procession to National Cemetery will leave promptly at 12:15. Burial at 1:15 p.m.