W. R Kelley, or “Kelley" to his friends and loved ones, left this world to be with our Lord on August 19, 2017 - just shy of his 92nd birthday. He was welcomed into the loving arms of his wife Catherine - the love of his life since the day they met more than 60 years ago. Kelley was born September 6, 1925 in Grapeland, Texas to J. B. and Dora Mae Kelley. He was the sixth of ten children, and was preceded in death by all. Upon graduating from Grapeland High School in 1943, he left with his father to find work in Houston and landed a job as a welder at Brown Shipyard. The work ethic and skills he developed early on would serve him well throughout his life; first, in support of the war effort and next as he enlisted in the U. S. Army in 1945. During his time in the military, he was proud to serve in the Pacific theater until he was honorably discharged in 1946. He was awarded the WWII Victory Medal and the Army Occupation Medal. He met and married his first wife, Johnnie Ruth Leslie, and from that marriage Kelley's first child was born, Sheila Kaye. They divorced ten years later, and with the help of Kelley's sister Agnes, he raised his daughter as a single man until the Lord blessed him with an introduction to his "sweet angel", Catherine. Catherine was a divorced mother of three small children when they married in October of 1957. Together they raised a blended family full of love, hard work and plenty of excitement. Kelley supported his family all those years as a master welder and foreman for Contractor's Metal Works in Houston, from which he retired in 1994. Mr. Kelley lived a very full life, enjoying family holidays, trips to the lake, annual hunting trips and travel. He was forever grateful for the time he had with Catherine, and was blessed with a large and loving extended family. He is survived by his daughter Sheila and his son Kevin, his grandchildren, Charles, Stephanie, Kelly Duane, Ian, Catherine and Erin, a six great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his own parents and all of his siblings, as well as his daughters Ann Marie and Veronica, and of course his bride, Catherine - all of whom he will meet again.
The family would especially like to thank the staff of Just Divine Hands - Gwen and Rose, Patsy, Rosa, Cia, Dominique, Adrian, Jamarcus and Ann, for their excellent care and for making his final years lively, prayerful and peaceful.