Bobby Eugene Kelley, 78, of West Plains MO passed away May 2, 2023, at Ozarks Health Care in West Plains MO. He was born on June 12, 1944, to Herman Kelley and Rozella (Edwards) Kelley in Manila, AR.
Bobby was the second oldest of ten children, he learned early on that hard work was important and necessary. He left school in the eighth grade to work as a farm hand on the Perkins farm to help support his family. In 1965 he was drafted by the United States Army to fight in the war in Vietnam. He later met his first wife Patricia Ann Walker and the two were married in 1966. Bobby and Patricia had three children before her passing in 2012. Bobby was later united in marriage to his childhood friend Slutie Christine Jones in 2016 in West Plains MO. Bobby took advantage of living in the Ozarks and enjoying fishing, hunting, and frog gigging. He had an affinity for the character Clem KadiddleHopper from the Red Skelton Show. He enjoyed the 4th of July and setting off fireworks with his family and the annual trip to the Gainesville square for Hootin and a Hollarin! Bobby will truly be missed by all of those who knew and loved him.
Bobby is survived by his wife Slutie Christine (Jones) Kelley, his children Marcy Lynn White, Carrie Sue Kelley; stepchildren Merlin Diter and Pamela Sue Quinn; grandchildren Callen, Heather, Chelsea, Christopher, Garland Jr, Ross Jr, and Desiree; sister Josa Eileen (McCullough) Richards and Michael McCullough.
He was preceded in death by his parents Pleasant McCullough and Rozella McCullough; his son Robert Wayne Kelley; first wife Patricia Ann (Walker) Kelley; brothers, Palmer Lee Kelley, Leonard William McCullough, Jimmy Ray McCullough, Randel Hestal McCullough, and three triplet brothers; and brothers-in-law Danny Hill and Woody Richards; and his first in- laws Mr. and Mrs. Walker.
Graveside services will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 6, 2023, at the Isabella Cemetery in Isabella, MO. Officiating: Jimmy Kyle. Visitation will be held from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM Friday, May 5, 2023, in the Chapel of Clinkingbeard Funeral Home in Gainesville MO. Arrangements are under the direction of Clinkingbeard Funeral Home, Gainesville, MO.
