September 13, 63, Mount Olive
Gary M. Kelly, Mount Olive resident, passed away early Wednesday morning, Sept. 13, at Kitty Askins Hospice Center. He was 63 years old.
Gary had been a long time employee of Georgia-Pacific Corp, was retired from Reuel of Goldsboro, and did plumbing and heating and air conditioning work “on the side.” Known for his willingness to help anybody, he had served as a volunteer member of the Mount Olive Rescue Squad as EMT-I for 25 years. He frequented the local Friendly Mart for a cup of coffee and a “scratch off ticket” on a daily basis. Known as “G-Daddy” to his grandchildren, he enjoyed spending time with them. When his girls were small, he was involved with their tee-ball function, serving as their team’s coach. Gary attended Mount Olive Pentecostal Holiness Church with his family.
Surviving Mr. Kelly are his wife, Ann Coley Kelly, of the home; their twin-daughters, Ashley Kelly Stevens and husband, Jason, of Faison, and Brooke Kelly Whitfield and husband, Ben, of Mount Olive; four grandchildren, Garrett and Caroline Stevens and Ethan and Hannah Whitfield; twin brothers, Ronald Kelley of La Grange, and Donald Kelley and wife, Barbara, of Calypso; his father-in-law, James Coley of Faison, and Ann’s siblings and their families.
Gary was preceded in death by a little grandson, Benjamin Luke Whitfield; his parents, Rufus and Annie Ruth Waters Kelly; two sisters, Atheleen K. Riley and Elma K. Sutton; a brother, Ray Hilburn Kelly; a foster-brother, G. W. Crumpler; and his mother-in-law, Audrey Coley.
The Kelly family will be receiving friends at Tyndall Funeral Home from 6 until 8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 15, and at other times at the residence. Funeral services will be held Saturday, Sept. 16, at 11 a.m. at Tyndall Funeral Home, officiated by the Rev. Jeffrey Dail, with burial following at Wayne Memorial Park. Flowers are indeed welcome, and any memorial gifts are asked to be made to Royal Home Ministries, c/o Falcon Children’s Home, 7490 N. West St., Falcon, NC 28342, and please note on your correspondence that your gift is in memory of Gary Kelly, to honor the memory of grandson, Luke Whitfield.