(Veteran)

A Russ Kelley, 78

Russ Kelley, 78, of Blair, died at his home on Tuesday, March 20, 2001.

Funeral services will be 1 p.m. March 23 at the First Christian Church in Blair, Interment will be in Fairview Cemetery in Albaton, Iowa.

Aaron Russell Kelley was born Sept. 18, 1922, in Linden, Iowa, to Harry and Marie Kelley. He attended high school in Jefferson, Iowa, and graduated in 1939.

He enlisted with the First division of the United States Marine Corps on Nov. 10, 1942 and served his country in World War Ii as a staff sergeant. He was honorably discharged on Dec. 14, 1945.

He met Nola Jeanne Oneal while attending college in Wayne. They were married June 1, 1947 in Sloan, Iowa.

Mr. Kelley earned a bachelor’s degree in education from the Nebraska State Teacher’s College in Wayne on Aug. 5, 1949, and a master’s degree in education from Colorado State College of Education on Aug. 19, 1954.

The Kelleys then settled in Blair, where he taught English, Social Studies, Industrial Arts and Driver’s Education at Blair High School from 1949 to 1957. He was also one of the Blair Bears basketball coaches.

Following his teaching career, Mr. Kelley was employed as a production manager for Fleetwood Broadmore Homes. While employed by Fleetwood, the family lived in Texas and southern California.

After moving back to Blair in 1973, the couple purchased Burke’s Fashions, a ladies clothing store, which they later renamed Kelley’s Fashions. They worked together in the business until 1984, when they retired.

Following his retirement, Mr. Kelley continued to work seasonally for the City of Blair Parks Department until 1995.

Mr. Kelley was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the American Association of Retired Persons, a past president of the Blair Lions Club and the National Rifle Association.

He is survived by his wife and life-long partner, Nola Kelley, two daughters and a son-in-law, Sandy Pounds of Blair, Sherry and Dick Everhart of Blair, seven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by an infant son and one grandson.

Campbell-Aman Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

~~~ Obituary courtesy of the Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings on file in the Blair Public Library at Blair, Nebraska.~~~