© The Tuttle Times
10 January 2008

Albert Eugene "Gene" Kelley

Albert Eugene "Gene" Kelley was born September 15, 1926, the child of Albert Worth Kelley, Sr. and Maud Mae (Sanger) Kelley, and passed from this life on Saturday, January 5, 2008, at the age of 81 after a lengthy illness.

Albert was born in Bridge Creek, Oklahoma, and lived most of his life in the Bridge Creek area, settling in Tuttle in 1968. He served in the United States Army during World War II and was stationed in Germany and France until being honorably discharged in 1952. He worked on his family's farm in Bridge Creek before starting a career with Nabisco where he retired in 1987 after 41 years.

He married Wanda M. Smalley on March 20, 1983, and together, they loved going to church, reading the Bible and working in the garden. He loved the OU Sooners, eating Nabisco cookies, but especially his children and grandchildren. He attended Snowhill Baptist Church for 35 years until 2006 when he became a member of the Tuttle Church of Christ.

He is preceded in death by: His parents, his daughter, Paula McKenzie; his brothers: Calvin Kelley, Vernon Kelley, Harold Kelley, Clarence Kelley and Jackson Kelley; his sisters: Gertrude Welchel, Clara McCormick and Alice Claytor; grandson, Jarrod Smalley; and special aunt and uncle, Will and Hattie King of Blanchard, Oklahoma.

Survivors include: wife, Wanda, of the home in Tuttle; son and daughter-in-law, Gene and Mary Kelley of Newcastle, OK; daughter, Heather Smalley of Omaha, NE: daughter, Kathy Milligan of Wayne, NE; son, Kim Smalley of Coyle, OK; daughter, Karri DuBois of Argyle, TX; son and daughter-in-law Kirk and Laura Smalley of Coyle, OK; daughter and son-in-law, Kristi and Byron Hughes of Tuttle, OK; sister, Vera Warnasche of Belton, TX; daughter-in-law, Cindy Smalley of Blanchard, OK; son-in-law, Jim McKenzie of Mustang, OK; Smalley-Sparks of Purcell, OK; numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews and friends.

Services will be held at the Tuttle Church of Christ at 2:00 P.M., Wednesday, January 9, 2008, under the direction of Eisenhour Funeral Home with burial following in Blanchard Cemetery. Pallbearers will be: Gene Kelley, Keenan Kelley, Krieg Kelley, Kim Smalley, Kirk Smalley, Byron Hughes and Austin Hughes. Honorary Pallbearers are Brad McKenzie, Dustin Milligan, Josh Milligan, Tom Pollock, Jay Watson, Jack Collins, David Wynn, Gerald Sipe and Bob Scott.

A special thank you to Sol Amor Hospice for their loving care and support in our time of need. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Sol Amor, 717 N.W. 17th St., OKC, OK 73103.