Cleve “Rudy” Kelley

Mr. Cleve “Rudy” Kelley, 94, of Baker County, died Tuesday, July 22, 2014, at Miller Nursing Home. Funeral services will be Thursday, July 24, 2014, at 3 p.m. at Sheffield Funeral Chapel with Rev. Hoyt Donley and Rev. Jimmy Hayes officiating. Interment will follow at Kelley Cemetery with his nephews serving as active pallbearers. Visitation will be Thursday, from 2-3 p.m. at Colquitt Funeral Home.

Mr. Kelley was born and raised in Baker County. After graduating high school he attended sheet metal fabrication school in College Park, Georgia, and was employed by the Glen L. Martin Co., an aircraft manufacturer in Baltimore, Maryland. Following Pearl Harbor he was inducted into the US Navy and served aboard the tanker ship USS Yahara in the Pacific during World War II. Honorably discharged from Military Service, he worked in auto mechanics in Bainbridge, before moving to Warner Robins, Ga., to work at Robins Air Force Base as a sheet metal specialist for 30 years. After his retirement in 1975, he lived at Holly Isles on Lake Seminole and enjoyed fishing and the camaraderie with his neighbors there. After residing at Lake Seminole for 23 years, he moved back to the home-place where he lived until his death. He was a member of Notchaway Baptist Church and enjoyed hosting the preparation of the barbecue for the annual Homecoming event for many years.

Mr. Kelley is survived by two sisters, Laverne Kelley Donley and Jeanette Kelley McDaniel both of Bainbridge; two brothers, Andrew Lee Kelley of Baker County, and Amos Kelley of Warner Robins; and many nieces and nephews.

He was pre-deceased by his parents, Jessie J. Kelley and Ona Moore Kelley and two brothers, Howard Kelley of Lake Seminole and J.E. Kelley of Bainbridge.

Sheffield Funeral Chapel of Colquitt is in charge of arrangements.