Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
PEA RIDGE — Jackie “Jack” Wayne Kelly,
90, of Pea Ridge, Ark., died Saturday, Sept. 4, 2021, at Promenade Health and Rehab in Rogers. He was born Nov. 3, 1930, in Beeville, Texas, to William Pearl Kelly and Virginia Audry Leach Kelly.
As a young boy the family moved to Rogers, Ark., where his parents owned and operated the Kelly Neon Sign Company. In 1948 he graduated from Rogers High School; also that year he joined the Navy and was stationed in Kodiak, Alaska. On July 4, 1949, he married his childhood sweetheart, Imogene Smith.
After his honorable discharge from the Navy they moved to Northern California and Jack went to work for the University of California at Berkeley. He was contracted out to the Atomic Energy Commission and worked for Lawrence Radiation Laboratories in Livermore, Calif., for 16 years.
In 1968 they moved back to the family farm outside of Rogers, Ark. For a few years he was part owner of Prairie Creek Electric, but after two years switched to Real Estate and worked for Cooper Communities. In January of 1975 his first wife passed from breast cancer. Later in ’75 he got his securities license and became a stockbroker for UMIC Securities in Memphis,Tenn.
He later met and married his second wife, Irene Shepherd, on Nov. 4, 1976, in Memphis, Tenn. They moved to New York City where they both worked for Donald Sheldon & Co. at #1 Wall St. After a short stint there, they decided to move back to Arkansas. In the early 80s he went back to work for Cooper Communities until the summer of 1990. Later that year he started a successful home-based business that he enjoyed for the next 25-plus years, until he was forced to retire because of health.
Jack was an avid lover of animals and especially close to his heart were horses. This love he passed on to his daughter and they spent many years training and showing horses together. They also worked together on the annual Pea Ridge Mule Jump up until her passing in 2015. He also loved anything outdoors, such as hunting and fishing when he was younger and these were the special times he spent with is son Randy, who he lost in 2013.
He also served on the Pea Ridge City Council for a few years and enjoyed the time he served. He was a 32nd degree Mason with the Washington Lodge #1, which was important to him because his father was also a Mason with Lodge #1. He was a member of the Westside Baptist church for the last 14 years and he had a tremendous love for his church and church Family, But above all he loved the Lord.
He is preceded in death by his first wife, Imogene Robelta Smith; a son, Randy Kelly; a daughter, Joyce Yvonne Mader; his stepfather, Joe Wylie; and a sister, Dorothy Parker.
Survivors are his wife, Irene Kelly of the home; siblings, Sonny Kelly of Missouri, Margie Hensley of Texas, Barbara Kelly of Bentonville,
Ark., Linda Kelly of Broken Arrow, Okla.; son- in- law, Bob Mader of Rogers, Ark.; five grandchildren, Patience Pierce (Chris), Bethany Mader, Anthony Mader, Shanna Hoey (Joey) and Megan Kelly; six grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
Service is set for 10 a.m., Thursday, Sept. 9, 2021, at Westside Baptist Church in Pea Ridge.
Arrangements are by Sisco Funeral Home in Pea Ridge. Visitation will from 6-8 p.m. Wednesday night at the funeral home. Burial will be in Tucks Chapel Cemetery in Rogers.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Humane Society For Animals, 407 E. Nursury Road, Rogers,
Ark., 72758 or The Wounded Warriors Project, 4899 Dell Fort Road, Jacksonville, Fla., 32256.
Online condolences may be made at siscofuneralhome. net .