William L. "Bill" Kelly

William L. “Bill” Kelly, 89, of Lexington, Nebraska, died Sunday, January 2, 2011, at St. Francis Medical Center in Grand Island, Nebraska. He was born July 26, 1921, in Afton, Oklahoma, to Lloyd and Clethal (Buckley) Kelly. The family moved to Lexington when Bill was 3. Bill attended Lexington High School, graduating in 1940. Following graduation he worked for Consolidated Aircraft Corporation in San Diego, California before returning to Nebraska to enlist in the Army. He married Mary Louise Haws on June 22, 1944, at Hobbs, N.M. while he was serving in the Military. Bill served in the U.S. Army Air Corps as a 2nd Lieutenant during World War II from 1942-1945. He was a First Pilot flying a B-17 Flying Fortress and completed 27 sorties as a member of the 463rd Bomb Group stationed in Foggia, Italy. At the end of the war, Bill and Mary lived in Glendale, California while Bill attended watch making school. The couple returned to Lexington, where he worked for Ora L. McKee at McKee Jewelry until 1967, when he and Mary bought the business and operated it until their retirement in 1986. Bill was a vital part of the Lexington Community serving in numerous organizations including the American Legion, Chamber of Commerce and Lexington Community Foundation. He was a past president of the board of directors of Home Federal Savings and Loan. Bill was an active member of St. Ann’s Catholic Church and the Knights of Columbus earning the Third Degree. He was an avid hunter, spending happy hours in his duck blind with his brother Jim, nephews and grandsons. He enjoyed golf and was a fine photographer, winning awards for his pictures of nature. Bill was a devoted and loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. Bill is survived by his wife, Elleanor (Dodge Welliver) Kelly, whom he married in 2005; daughters, Cathy (Drew) Johnson) Kelly of Sacramento, California, Sue (Charlie) Campbell of State College, Pennsylvania; sister-in-law, Jeanne Kelly of Lincoln, Nebraska; brother-in-law, Bill Robbins of Sacramento, California; four grandchildren, Michelle Evans, David (Colleen) Evans, Michael (Wendy) Evans and Mary Campbell; four great-grandchildren, Jacob and Tess McAndrew and Kelly and Ethan Evans; four nephews, Tom, Jim and Joe Kelly, Michael Robbins and a niece, Monica Robbins. Bill is also survived by Ellie’s family: Sons: Craig (Phillyis) Welliver of Valentine, Nebraska and Cole Welliver of Lexington, Nebraska; grandchildren, Samantha (Shad) Mann and their son, Trevor of Brady, Nebraska and Travis (Chrystal) Welliver and their children, Andrew & Mariah of Valentine, Nebraska Bill was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Mary of 58 years; brother, Jim Kelly; sister, Marie Kelly and sister-in-law, Cathy Robbins. Mass of Christian Burial will be Friday, January 7, 2011, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Ann’s Catholic Church in Lexington, Nebraska with Reverends Don O’Brien and Paul Colling con-celebrating. Visitation will be held Thursday, January 6, 2011, from 5-7 p.m. with rosary at 7:00 p.m. all at Reynolds-Love Funeral Home in Lexington. Burial with Military Honors will be in the Greenwood Cemetery at Lexington, Nebraska. Memorials are suggested to the Lexington Community Foundation or the Tri-County Hospital Auxiliary. Reynolds-Love Funeral Home in Lexington is in charge of arrangements. Please direct online condolences to the family through: reynoldslovefuneralhome.com.