George Kelly
November 28, 1920 — May 3, 2010
George Kelly
George Wytch Kelly died May 3, 2010 in Jackson. Graveside Service will be Wednesday, May 5, 2010 at 2:00 in New Cleveland Cemetery. Memorial service will be held later in the week at Trinity Presbyterian church in Jackson, MS. He was born in Cleveland, MS on November 28, 1920, and was the second child of George Kelly and Mary Lucille Davis. His sister was Clariece Kelly Jones (1918-1971).
George, or Sonny as he was called as a youth, was an active Boy Scout, and his troop visited the Chicago World’s Fair in 1933. He was Drum Major for the Cleveland High School band. Then, he became Drum Major for the Famous Maroon Band at Mississippi State College in 1940-41.
In 1942 George joined the Army and became a paratrooper. On furlough, he came to Jackson in March 1943 to marry Elaine Smith at the First Presbyterian Church. He and Elaine, from Sumner, MS, had first met while taking courses at Delta State Teachers College.
George studied engineering at the University of Pittsburgh with the short-lived Army Specialized Training Program. Afterwards, he instructed paratroopers at Fort Benning, GA, and was sent to the Pacific Theatre with the 11th Airborne in December 1944. He landed at Hollandia, New Guinea, then moved up the Philippines, and was stationed at Okinawa when Japan signed the peace treaty. George and the 11th landed at Atsugi Air Base with General MacArthur a few days later.
George, now a 1st Sgt., came home from Japan in early Feburary 1946. He and Elaine’s only child, Steve, was born in November of that year. Mississippi Power & Light (MP&L) employed George in Jackson, and then transferred him to Marketing in Greenville. He was active with the Methodist Church, received his pilot’s license, and became a serious photography hobbyist while there. The company then moved him to Grenada for a couple of years.
In 1952 Mississippi Valley Gas was split out of MP&L and the family moved with the new company to Clarksdale. While in Clarksdale, George designed and contracted the family home. He was active with the Exchange Club, March of Dimes, Shriners, Mississippi State Alumni, Music Club, and coaching Peewee League football. He also completed engineering correspondence courses.
Valley Gas transferred George to Jackson in 1959, where he lived for the rest of his life. He became accomplished with the following hobbies: sailplane flying, skeet shooting, organ, calligraphy, and painting. He also had an interest in coin collecting, woodworking, guitar, genealogy, and astronomy. In 1984 he retired from Valley Gas (now Atmos).
George was a life-long Christian. He was an inspirational husband, father, and grandfather. George loved music, including blues, bluegrass, Broadway, circus, classical, country, Dixieland jazz, folk, hymns, march, opera, rock ‘n roll, and swing.
George was preceded in death by Elaine in 2009, his wife of 65 years. He is survived by his son Steve (Martha), and grandsons Matt and Joe.
George, or Sonny as he was called as a youth, was an active Boy Scout, and his troop visited the Chicago World’s Fair in 1933. He was Drum Major for the Cleveland High School band. Then, he became Drum Major for the Famous Maroon Band at Mississippi State College in 1940-41.
In 1942 George joined the Army and became a paratrooper. On furlough, he came to Jackson in March 1943 to marry Elaine Smith at the First Presbyterian Church. He and Elaine, from Sumner, MS, had first met while taking courses at Delta State Teachers College.
George studied engineering at the University of Pittsburgh with the short-lived Army Specialized Training Program. Afterwards, he instructed paratroopers at Fort Benning, GA, and was sent to the Pacific Theatre with the 11th Airborne in December 1944. He landed at Hollandia, New Guinea, then moved up the Philippines, and was stationed at Okinawa when Japan signed the peace treaty. George and the 11th landed at Atsugi Air Base with General MacArthur a few days later.
George, now a 1st Sgt., came home from Japan in early Feburary 1946. He and Elaine’s only child, Steve, was born in November of that year. Mississippi Power & Light (MP&L) employed George in Jackson, and then transferred him to Marketing in Greenville. He was active with the Methodist Church, received his pilot’s license, and became a serious photography hobbyist while there. The company then moved him to Grenada for a couple of years.
In 1952 Mississippi Valley Gas was split out of MP&L and the family moved with the new company to Clarksdale. While in Clarksdale, George designed and contracted the family home. He was active with the Exchange Club, March of Dimes, Shriners, Mississippi State Alumni, Music Club, and coaching Peewee League football. He also completed engineering correspondence courses.
Valley Gas transferred George to Jackson in 1959, where he lived for the rest of his life. He became accomplished with the following hobbies: sailplane flying, skeet shooting, organ, calligraphy, and painting. He also had an interest in coin collecting, woodworking, guitar, genealogy, and astronomy. In 1984 he retired from Valley Gas (now Atmos).
George was a life-long Christian. He was an inspirational husband, father, and grandfather. George loved music, including blues, bluegrass, Broadway, circus, classical, country, Dixieland jazz, folk, hymns, march, opera, rock ‘n roll, and swing.
George was preceded in death by Elaine in 2009, his wife of 65 years. He is survived by his son Steve (Martha), and grandsons Matt and Joe.
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