Gerald M. “Jerry” Kelly passed away Tuesday, December 16, 2014 following a lengthy illness. He was 85.

Born in East Liverpool, October 28, 1929, he was a son of the late Robert John and Edith Alberta Kelly. A member of the East Liverpool High School Class of 1948, he lived in this area all his life. A veteran of the U.S. Air Force, he was a cook at the Lackland Air Force Base and was a member of the Minute Men Quartet. When he returned home from the military, he was a butcher at the former Kelly’s Market and worked at the former Lane Casting. After being mentored in the foundry trade by Browder Lane, he and his brothers started the Wellsville Foundry in 1967 and operated the business together for many years. He then established Yellow Creek Casting with his wife in 1984. Previously, he worked at the former Crucible Steel Company and was a member of the Crucible Steel Male Chorus.

He was a longtime member of the Oakland Free Methodist Church and later he became a member of the Yellow Creek Presbyterian Church. A man of strong faith, he also traveled to Paraguay on many occasions for mission work that included building churches and orphanage homes, along with supporting the construction of a hospital addition and a school. Jerry was a friend to all and became a father figure to many people whose lives he touched while he was in Paraguay, especially Zulma, Teresa, Gabriella and Roque.

A jack of all trades, he enjoyed so many things in life but especially fishing, gardening, singing, camping, boxing, golfing and all sports.

His wife, Lois V. Kelly, survives at home. The couple married November 1. 1950. There are four daughters, Sandra Hughes, and her husband Emmett, of Porterdale, Georgia, Jeanne Parker, and her husband Tom, of Boca Raton, Florida, Cheryl Pierce, and her husband Dave, of Lisbon, and Denise Rutan, and her husband Ricky, of Wellsville, along with two sons, Dan Kelly, and his wife Peggy, of Hemlock, New York, and Ron Kelly, and his wife Marilyn, of East Liverpool. A brother survives as well, James “Jim” Kelly, and his wife Kay, of Wellsville, and two sisters-in-law, Una Kelly of Ohioville and Alma Kelly of East Liverpool.

There are 19 grandchildren and 23 great-grandchildren and two additional great-grandchildren expected soon.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a sister, Geraldine Thomas, two brothers, Bruce Kelly and Harold Kelly, one grandchild and one great-grandchild.

Friends may visit Saturday afternoon and evening at the Dawson Funeral Home where the family will be present from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Pastor Bob Offerdahl of Yellow Creek Presbyterian Church will conduct a funeral service at 4:00 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home.

The Tri-State Veterans Burial Group will conduct military honors.

Burial will be at Yellow Creek Cemetery.

Following the service, family and friends will gather at the Yellow Creek Presbyterian Church fellowship hall for continued remembrance.

In lieu of flowers, memorial tributes may take the form of contributions in care of Yellow Creek Presbyterian Church, 17365 State Route 45, Wellsville, Ohio 43968.

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