Garry Lee Kelley

Garry Lee Kelley, 76, of Baldwin City, KS passed away Friday, October 20, 2023 at his home in Baldwin City, KS.  Garry, the son of Harold and Lorayne (Slagle) Kelley, was born in Springfield, MO on January 7, 1947.  He lived in Walnut Grove, MO where he attended the Walnut Grove schools, graduating from Walnut Grove High School with the Class of 1965. 

On August 9, 1975, Garry was united in marriage to Jana Newland.  They have shared over forty-eight years of marriage.

Over the years, Garry had various jobs.  In his early years, he worked at Phillips 66 filling station in Walnut Grove, MO and Wilkerson Motors in Ash Grove, MO.  Once he moved, he worked at Wes Grimes Service Station in Lawrence, KS; Layton Oil near Baldwin City, KS; Bell Wheels in Baldwin City, KS; Central Fiber in Wellsville, KS; Audra’s Dawg House in Baldwin City, KS; Baker University’s Maintenance Department in Baldwin City, KS; and finally the City of Baldwin City, Parks and Recreation Department in Kansas.

He loved to use his Bobcat Skid Loader,  mow (taking pride in his zero-turn lawn mowing skills) and using his Allis-Chalmers tractor and his beloved John Deere tractor on the family farm.  In his free time, you would find him at a local pond fishing, mushroom hunting or watching deer at sunset with his binoculars.

Garry is survived by his wife, Jana J. Kelley (Newland) of the home; his daughter, Jenny Marie Thomas (Kelley) and husband Donnie Thomas Jr of Baldwin City, KS; grandchildren, Toby Thomas and Elizabeth “Lizzie” Thomas; great-grandchild, Raelynn Thomas of Baldwin City, KS; siblings Rose Marie (Dutch) Abbott of Walnut Grove, MO, Larry Kelley and wife Pat of Mountain Home, AR; and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and other family and friends.

He is preceded in death by both parents; his brother, James H. Kelley; and his sisters, Barbara Yocom and Patsy Sue Rockhold.

A graveside memorial service will be held 4 p.m. Friday, November 3, 2023 at the Green Lawn Cemetery, Walnut Grove, MO and a graveside memorial service will be held 4 p.m. Wednesday, November 8, 2023 at the Oakwood Cemetery, Baldwin City, KS. Memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s and or the Parkinson’s Disease Associations of Kansas and sent to the Lamb-Roberts-Price Funeral Home, P.O. Box 64, Baldwin City, KS 66006.  Condolences may be sent to the family through www.lamb-roberts.com.

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