Joseph Edward Kelly

Joseph E. Kelly, 88 , went to be with the Lord on Sat. Aug. 18, 2012. He was born on Jan. 23, 1924 in Phoenix, AZ. He leaves behind his dear wife of 66 yrs. Patsy Scott Kelly, his daughter, Marsha Kelly Jones and husband Ernest Charles Jones of Missouri City, TX grandson Charles E. Jones of Missouri City, TX and Joe's great-granddaughter Guinevere Jones-Soule of Spring,TX, granddaughter Kelly Jones Gross and husband Chad R. Gross of Woodstock. GA, great-grandsons Cameron Brookins, Colby Gross, and Cooper Joseph Gross of Woodstock, GA, nephew James Scott of Houston, TX and great-niece Stacy West of Missouri City, TX.

In life, Joe had several occupations following his service in WWII as a paratrooper and CIC operative.

Upon returning to civilian life he worked with his Dad, Donald Kelly in a construction business and later went on from an operator of heavy equipment to a salesman and ultimately Sales Manager for Boehck Equipment Sales. He maintained his interest in geology that he studied in college at U of H and that later led to his involvement in The Asphalt Pavers Association. He stayed with the equipment business into the 1970's and at that time became involved in working for the City of Houston in Purchasing. Before retiring, Joe thoroughly enjoyed serving the Fire Dept. of Houston purchasing for their EMS division. These were his secular jobs though. At the age of 33 Joe met and had a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and as a lay person felt he was called to minister. He carried this out both with the Gideons, the Rotary Club, actively serving first as a deacon in his church and later a lay minister who did some interim work for some churches and later in prison ministry as well as some missions he preached in downtown Houston such as Star of Hope. Further on Joe felt the Lord wanted him ordained and he was ordained as a Baptist minister. With this credential he was then able to minister in the Houston Housing Authority and many nursing homes taking in fellowship, worship music, and studying the Bible to those who had no way to go out to churches. He at one time considered beginning a nursing home business as he truly had a heart to minister to the elderly. In his retirement years Joe and Patsy developed a love for antique finds and opened an antique business called Pat's Corner where for many years they devoted many hours to finds, refurbishing and hunting and selling their treasures. In this they made many friendships and thoroughly enjoyed their retirement years until finally their health ddictated that they could no longer search for their treasures and their business is slowly being phased out. They, due to Joe's Parkinson's disease and Patsy's heart condition, moved from living independently in 2009 and have resided in Missouri City with their daughter and son-in-love since that time. However, they were blessed to still have many family outings until just this past few months and while not unexpected from the doctor's perspective, Joe lived longer with his condition than predicted and did cheerfully embrace the fact that he had limitations but that they did not end his zest for life. When the Lord took him Home to Heaven on the 18th, Joe had not had any weeks when he had been absolutely unable to get out at least some still and do his favorite thing-go out for a family meal. God called him Home and He was ready to get his new and improved and healthy body but we here that remain shall surely miss him. We will again see him in that great reunion day and for most of us we look forward with anticipation to celebrating as we know he is now doing in that Heavenly place he has entered. For he is absent from this body here before us but present with the Lord in one that now is in perfect condition and enjoying his new life there.

Visitation will be from 4:00 to 6:30 p.m. on Monday August 20, 2012 at Earthman’s Bellaire with a funeral service to follow at 7:00 p.m.. Interment will be at 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday August 20, 2012 at Matinburg Cemetery near Pittsburg, Texas.