Harold Sidney Kelley passed away on September 7, 2022 after suffering from lung cancer. Sid was born on October 24, 1941 in Kansas City, Missouri to Mary Erceldine and Harold Gene Kelley. As a boy, Sid loved the outdoors enjoying fishing and shooting. He attended Stony Point Elementary School and graduated from Washington High School (class on 1959) and Kansas City Kansas Community College (1961). Sid met his future wife, Barbara Kenslow, in his sophomore high school Geometry class. They married in May of 1962.
Following graduation from KCKCC, Sid worked a few different jobs until he was accepted into LU533 as a Pipe Fitter’s Apprentice in 1965. In 1970 Sid won the local and state apprenticeship contest and competed in the national contest at Purdue University, where he won the welding competition. Sid spent the next 32 years working for Huxtable Hammond and US Engineering as a pipe fitter and supervisor at businesses throughout the KC metro including City Center Square, Colgate, KCI, Bendix, and TWA. In the evenings, Sid taught at the pipefitter apprenticeship school teaching gas welding, mathematics and drafting until he retired in 2001.
Sid enjoyed many hobbies throughout his lifetime. He built and raced funny cars and dragsters with his brother Gerry from 1960-1979. In 1976, Sid and Barbara bought their first horse which led to showing Arabian horses, eventually winning the western pleasure national championship in 1987. He also enjoyed boating and water skiing with his family, target shooting and fishing.
Sid’s faith in Jesus was central to his life and he was a member of Stony Point Christian Church, Grace Christian Fellowship and Stilwell United Methodist Church. As a father to Tami (math teacher) and Tim (electrical engineer), Sid stressed God, family and education. Loyalty, honesty and a strong work ethic were central values he wanted them to possess. Perhaps Sid’s greatest contribution to his family was the love and pride he took in his grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Family members that preceded him in death were his parents and brother, Gerald Wayne Kelley. Sid is survived by his wife of 60 years, Barbara Jeanne (Kenslow) Kelley, his daughter Tamara Jeanne Elsey (husband David Allen Elsey), his son Timothy Gene Kelley (wife Karen Eileen Kelley), and his youngest brother David Ralph Kelley (wife Cheryl Lynn Kelley). His grandchildren: Ryan Joseph Elsey (wife Stacie Nicole Elsey), Dylan James Elsey (wife Rachel Leigh Elsey), Connor James Kelley, Shawna Marie (Elsey) Cole (husband Andrew Tyson Cole), and Evan Kenslow Kelley (wife Rebecca Danae Kelley). His great grandchildren: Wells Kelley, Maxwell David Elsey, Eleanor Barbara Elsey, Paxton Carter Elsey, and baby girl Cole (due in November).
Services will be at Chapel Hill-Butler Funeral Home on Monday, September 12, 2022. Visitation at 10 am followed by memorial service at 11am. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to Stilwell United Methodist Church or Olathe Hospice House.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.chapelhill-butler.com for the Kelley family.
