Clarence Horton Kelley's Obituary
KELLEY, CLARENCE HORTON Clarence Kelley celebrated his 100th birthday on March 13, 2008. Nine days later, on Saturday March 22nd, he departed. Although his name was Clarence, everyone knew him as Kelley. He was born in El Dorado, Oklahoma to the parents of Effie Lee and William Obadiah Kelley on March 13, 1908 and had three brothers and one sister. Kelley retired as Vice President of Special Risk with Cravens Dargan Insurance in 1984. He had only worked for one other company, Home Insurance Company of New York. His love was playing baseball (First base and outfield) and was drafted by the St. Louis Browns but chose the insurance profession in 1927 after completing Hill’s Business College in Oklahoma City. In addition to his knowledge of the insurance business, he was recognized as one of the outstanding speakers in the state and was often called upon to speak before the leading Chambers of Commerce in Oklahoma and Texas, as well as addressing Civic Clubs and National Insurance Conventions. He loved sports and entertaining friends and was always a great host and the best of bartenders with his red bowtie. But most of all, he loved his wife Scottie, who he had been married to for over 50 years. Kelley was a long time member of the Lake Highlands Methodist Church in Dallas, Texas. He was preceded in death by his daughter, Barbara Armstrong. He is survived by: His wife, Scottie; his daughter, Barbara’s husband Warren, and their children Kathy, Kelley, and Kevin of Oklahoma City, OK; His daughter, Patti Palmer, husband Calvin and children Scott, Jennifer, Richie, and Julie of Irving, TX; Son Joe Kelley, wife Debbie and children Jonathan and Byron of Dallas, Texas; Sister Gwendolyn McKinney of Edmond, OK; 14 Great Grand Children and countless wonderful friends. Grave Side Services will be at Restland Memorial Park, Greenville Ave. & Restland, Dallas, TX at 1:00pm Thursday March 27th. Memorial Services will be at Lake Highlands United Methodist Church, 9015 Plano Rd, Dallas, TX At 3:00pm Thursday, March 27th. His favorite quote is ‘Spirit is God, and man is His image and likeness. Therefore man is not material; he is spiritual..’ He is a man who was loved by all and will never be forgotten.
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