George K. Kelly
RENSSELAER FALLS — Funeral services for George K. Kelly, 87, of State Hwy 812, Rensselaer Falls, NY, will be held on Thursday (Feb. 4, 2010) at 3:00 pm at St. Raphael's Church in Heuvelton with Rev. James Seymour officiating. Burial will be at St. Mary's Cemetery in Ogdensburg in the spring.
Calling hours will also be held on Thursday from 12:00 - 2:30 at the Fox & Murray Funeral Home.
Mr. Kelly passed away on Sunday (January 31, 2010) at his home surrounded by his family.
Surviving are nine children, Patricia Dooling and husband Rick Walsh of Scituate, MA, Eileen Hollembaek and husband Rick of Syracuse, NY, George "Kenneth" Kelly, Jr., and wife Ruthann of Rensselaer Falls, NY, Arthur Bert Kelly and wife Deborah of LaPorte, TX, Mary Jane Kelly of LaPorte, TX, Marion Martin and husband Garry of Windham, NH, Kelly Magee and husband Jim of Bow, NH, Kathleen Ferguson and husband Mike of Liverpool, NY, Edward Bert Kelly of Scituate, MA.; one niece whom he loved like a daughter, Christine Carroll and husband Ray, of Heuvelton, NY; two sisters Mrs. Roy (Kathryn) Nettleton of Salamanca, NY and Mrs. Ira (Barbara) Smith of Acton, MA; a brother James Kelly of Scotia, NY; 20 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren and one on the way, and many nieces, nephews and cousins.
Mr. Kelly was predeceased by three sisters Mrs. Paul (Marian) Briggs, Mrs. Stan (Ann) Sovie and Mrs. Earle (Betty) Johnston; three brothers Arthur, Hugh and Edward Kelly; and a grandson Brian Kelly.
George was born on April 27, 1922 in the town of DeKalb, a son of the late Edward B. and Corrine (Gilbert) Kelly. He attended Heuvelton District Schools for his education, and began working at the Rockland State Hospital in Orangeburg, NY in the summer months in 1938. He returned to Heuvelton briefly to finish his high school education, graduating in 1939 and returned to Rockland State. In 1940 he enlisted in the US Army National Guard and served in WWII with the 104th Combat Engineering Regiment, 44th Infantry Division at Ft. Dix, Camp Clayborn and Ft. Lewis. He spent 27 months overseas during the Pacific Theater and was stationed in the Aleutian Islands, the Hawaiian Islands, Marshall Island and the Philippine Islands as the Communication Chief Tech Sergeant. He was in the first wave for five amphibious landings. He received his honorable discharge on October 16, 1945 and returned to Heuvelton to work on the family farm.
He married Catherine "Kay" Mitchell on Jan 3, 1942 at the St. Catherine's Church in Blauvelt, NY. She predeceased him on July 5, 1979. In 1948 he co-owned the Steele & Kelly Garage with Don Steele until 1966 when he became the sole proprietor and changed the name to G. K. Kelly & Sons, specializing in automotive repair and Oliver farm machinery sales until 1976. In 1977 he moved to Texas and was employed by Landreth Engineering, Houston, as the maintenance supervisor, until age 73 when he retired and returned to his Rensselaer Falls residence.
He was a member of the St. Raphael's Catholic Church and the Ogdensburg VFW. He enjoyed playing cards, bowling, duck hunting, shuffle board and music. He loved spending time with his children and grandchildren. Like his father before him, he was a life-long ardent fan of the NY Yankees.
Memorial contributions have been requested to the Heuvelton Volunteer Fire Department. Online condolences can also be made to his family at www.foxandmurrayfuneralhome.com.
