Elmer J. Kelley

October 9, 1922 - February 5, 2014

Mr. Elmer Jackson Kelley, age 91, husband of Susie Kelley, and a resident of Jones Valley Road in the Water Valley Community, passed away on Wednesday, February 5, 2014 at Life Care Center of Columbia.

A funeral service will be held on Friday, February 7, 2014 at 3:00pm in the chapel of Heritage Funeral Home with Mike Williams officiating. Burial will follow in the Santa Fe Cemetery. The family will visit with friends on Thursday, February 6, 2014 from 4-7pm at Heritage Funeral Home, and again one hour prior to the service on Friday. Heritage Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.

A native of Maury County, Elmer J. was born on October 9, 1922 and was the son of the late Robert and Ethel Stuard Kelley. He retired as a welder for Occidental Chemical Company and was a member of Water Valley Church of Christ. Before his health failed him, he enjoyed fishing, wood working, bird watching, and gardening. He and his wife maintained a one acre garden. He was an outdoorsman and a busy man who you could rarely find sitting around unless he had someone to talk to.

Along with his loving wife, Sue, of 69 years, Elmer is survived by his son: Jimmy Kelley of Water Valley; daughter: Barbara Gayle Liner of Water Valley; sister: Louise Beasley of Tyler, Texas; grandchildren: Kelley (Tony) Holder of Hohenwald, Joey (Stephen) Farmer of Nolensville, Sarah (BJ) McCormick of Water Valley, Christopher Kelley of Water Valley; great-grandchildren: Santana (Aaron) Larue of Columbia, Michael (Amanda) Prince of Columbia, Cody Farmer of Nolensville, Will McCormick of Water Valley, Corey Kelley of Centerville Aiden Camp of Hobart, IN; great-great-grandchildren: Kylie Larue of Columbia, Addison Prince of Columbia; and several nieces and nephews.

Along with his parents, he was preceded in death by six siblings: Preston Kelley, Lillie Flowers, Mamie Westmoreland, Mary Westmoreland, Adel Cates, and Christine Hunt.

Pallbearers will be James Grayland Huey, Everett Steward, Wayne Cates, Joe Hargrove, Danny Lunn, and Larry Flowers.

Honorary pallbearers will be the past employees of the maintenance department at Occidental Chemical Company, the members of the Water Valley Church of Christ, and all of his neighbors and friends of the Water Valley Community.

The family would like to give a special thanks to Dr. Ben Gardner and all the staff that took care of Elmer at Life Care Center of Columbia.

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