January 11 1931 July 09 2019
Cecil’s Obituary Cecil Lawrence Kelly passed away peacefully at the Missouri Veterans Home in Warrensburg, Missouri on July 9th, having lived 88 years, 5 months, and 28 days. He was born January 11, 1931 in Hamilton County, Texas the third of nine children born to Neal and Cloyse (Hicks) Kelly. He professed his faith in Jesus Christ at the age of 12 and was baptized at the First Baptist Church in Hamilton, Texas. This would mark the beginning of a life-long commitment of service to the church. As a faithful Southern Baptist, he served as a deacon, a church council member, a youth sponsor, a Sunday School teacher, and a song leader. Because of his firm belief in Christian education, he continued to study God’s Word well into his eighties. Cecil was also a talented musician who thoroughly enjoyed bluegrass, old country tunes, and the hymns of the church. As a boy, he learned to play the guitar and violin from his father, but favored the mandolin later in life. Though he never learned to read music, he played beautifully “by ear” having memorized many of the hymns in the Baptist Hymnal and most of the classics played by bluegrass and country bands. He loved music whether he was playing alone or to a crowd, and believed in the tremendous power of music to heal and inspire. At the age of 17, Cecil quit school and joined the United States Air Force, eager to see the world. During his four years of service to his country, he was trained as a radioman and stationed in such exotic places as Dayton, Ohio, Biloxi, Mississippi, The Aleutian Islands in Alaska and finally in Rapid City, South Dakota. He attained the rank of Tech Sergeant and, like so many veterans, considered his years of service as “the greatest and worst time of my life”! During his lifetime Cecil had a number of professions, he was a printer, a mechanic, a business owner, a house parent at a boy’s ranch and a children’s home, manager of a convenience store, and a seafood sales associate at Walmart. This last job he held until he was 80 years old! He loved to work and when he wasn’t working he was an avid woodworker and violin maker. He enjoyed making bowls, candlesticks, goblets and various other items, not in order to sell them but to give them away. Every child and grandchild, every neighbor and friend was given a piece of Cecil’s handiwork. On July 19, 1953 Cecil married the love of his life, Ruth Wagner. They had known each other since childhood, but the little cotton-headed girl from Pottsville, Texas grew up and captured his heart. They were married on a Sunday morning at the pastor’s home, before church services, by Ruth’s uncle, Rev. Scott Wright. Following the ceremony, they attended worship service where they were properly introduced as husband and wife to an enthusiastic congregation at the First Baptist Church of Hamilton, Texas! In retelling the story of their marriage Cecil would say, “I had to borrow $100 to get married and I’ve been in debt ever since!” Their life together would span a week shy of 66 years. They would welcome three children into their lives – Paul, Don, and Patricia. Cecil is survived by his wife Ruth of Cole Camp, Missouri, his son Paul Kelly (Sandy Schlesselman) of Cole Camp, Missouri, his son Don Kelly (Cathy) of Livermore, Colorado, and his son-in-law Wallie Schoonover of Gunnison, Colorado. The grief of his passing will also be profoundly felt by Cecil and Ruth’s nine grandchildren – Noah Kelly (Lauryn), Jared Kelly (Naudalia), Rhiannon Venit (Mike), Courtney Young (Noah), Chris Young (Darian), Nick Kelly (Christine, fiancée), Laura Kelly (Tanner), Garrett Schoonover, and Ely Schoonover (Stacy), and 11 great-grandchildren. Cecil also survived by three sisters and two brothers, Nena Harden of College Station, Texas, Myrtle Turner of Kyle, Texas, Carrol Kelly of Kyle, Texas, Robert Kelly (Barbara) of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and Harrol Kelly (Ann) of Carrollton, Texas. He will also be deeply missed by a special family friend, Brian Turk of Fredericksburg, Texas. Cecil was preceded in death by his daughter Patricia Lynn Schoonover, his parents Neal and Cloyse Kelly, a great-grandson Wyatt Schnoonover, one brother, Albert Bruce Kelly, and two sisters, Addie Schmeltekopf and Mary Lois Nickell. A visitation followed by a prayer service will be held at St. Paul Lutheran Church, Cole Camp, in the gathering area and chapel on Thursday, July 18th at 6:00 p.m. with Pastor Stephen Zeller officiating. Interment will be at the I.O.O. F. cemetery in Hamilton, Texas, on August 17th. Honorary pallbearers will be Cecil’s grandchildren. Memorial gifts may be given to the Missouri Veterans Home in Warrensburg, Missouri, American Legion Post 305 in Cole Camp, Missouri, or the Benton County Cancer Fund. Read More
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Cecil Lawrence Kelly January 11 1931 July 09 2019.
Death notice for the town of: Cole Camp, state: Missouri