William H. "Bill" Kelly

 William Hathaway (Bill) Kelly Sr. of Dyersburg died of a heart attack August 26, 2016, at Tennova Healthcare-Dyersburg Regional.  He turned 100 Aug. 23rd  and had joyfully celebrated with family and friends Aug. 20th  in Dyersburg, followed by supper with family at Boyette’s in Tiptonville, where one last time he relished eating country ham and onion rings.

Bill was married for 64 years to the late Mary Louise Hughes Kelly.  They were the parents of Edward Ross “Ed” Kelly (Betsy) of Memphis and the late William Hathaway “Bill” Kelly Jr. (Paula) and the late Virginia Kelly Viar (Charles).  He also leaves eight grandchildren:  William H. Kelly III (Michelle) of Atlanta; Patrick Louis Kelly (Heather) of Birmingham; Matthew Hughes Kelly of Senatobia, MS; Elizabeth Kelly Eggleston (Winston) and Eleanore Kelly Maynard (Barry) of Memphis; Mary Milton Kelly of New York; Blake Hathaway Viar of Memphis; and 1st Lt. Mary Curren Viar Hart (Jeff) of Fort Sill, OK; and five great-grandchildren. 

Bill was born in Memphis Aug. 23, 1916, to Florence Davies Kelly and Jacob Buzard Kelly.  He attended Pentecost Garrison School and Central High School and graduated from The Darlington School in Rome, GA.  He was a graduate of Southwestern At Memphis (now Rhodes College), where he was a member of the Hall of Fame, president of the Honor Council and president of Kappa Sigma fraternity.  He served on the U. S. Navy battleship Idaho during World War II.  He retired after 35 years as a sales representative with Arthur Fulmer Co.  Bill and Mary Louise reared their children in Dyersburg and were active in First United Methodist Church.  Bill was an avid, excellent golfer and was past president of the West Tennessee Golfers Association.  He shot his age over 200 times between the ages of 72 and 92 and was proud of having made seven holes in one. He loved people, golf, and dogs, not necessarily in that order.

A celebration of life is set for 11 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 30, 2016 at the First United Methodist Church followed by visitation in the church fellowship hall from 11:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m.  The family requests memorials be made to First United Methodist Church, P. O. Box 452, Dyersburg, TN 38025 or The Baddour Memorial Center, 262 Baddour Blvd.,  Senatobia, MS 38668 or a charity of the donor’s choice.

Arrangements entrusted to Curry Funeral Home, 1984 St. John Avenue, Dyersburg, TN  38024.  Online condolences may be made to the family at www.curryfuneral.com.