Mr. Gale O'Day Kellim

Funeral services for Gale O'Day Kellim, age 91, will be held at 3 p.m. on Thursday, February 2, 2012 at George A. Smith and Sons North Chapel, with Minister Lonnie Sanders officiating. Burial will follow in Highland Memorial Gardens.

Mr. Kellim died January 30, 2012 after a brief illness.

He was born on December 29, 1920 in Delaplaine, AR to the late W. W. Kellim and Lola Kellim. He was preceded in death by brothers, O'Neal Kellim of Walnut Ridge, AR, Paul Kellim of Paragould, AR and nephews, Julian Crider of Delaplaine, AR. and William Kellim of Walnut Ridge, AR.

Gale retired in 1986. He was a Sales Supervisor with Arkansas-Missouri Power Company for fifteen years in Walnut Ridge, AR, Blytheville, AR, and Caruthersville, MO. He moved his family to Jackson, TN in 1964 to work as a Sales Representative with Empire Stove Company, later as Sales Supervisor for Century Engineering of Cedar Rapids, IA, and Sales Supervisor for Freedom Heating and Air Conditioning.

Mr. Kellim was a member of West Jackson Baptist Church from 1964. He was a Master Mason for the past fifty years, first at Masonic Lodge at Walnut Ridge, AR and, at the time of his death, Masonic Lodge #461, Caruthersville, MO. He was past president of the Lion's Club in Caruthersville, MO and a member of the Lion's Club, Rotary, and VFW in Jackson, TN.

He was a veteran of the United States Naval Aviation Squadron #3. He served in the South Pacific area during WWII. Gale was a very active outdoorsman. He enjoyed hunting and fishing.

He is survived by his loving wife, Edna M. Kellim, whom he married in 1941. He is also survived by two loving daughters, Kathy Barnett and husband Rickey of Franklin, TN, and Carol Sykes of Jackson, TN; four grandchildren, Benjamin and Allison Barnett of Franklin, TN, and Justin and John Sykes of Jackson, TN. Also surviving is his sister, Edna Cridar of Delaplaine, AR.

Serving as Pallbearers are grandchildren, Ben Barnett, Allison Barnett, Justin Sykes, John Sykes, and friends, Lennie Ellis and Bob Summars.

The family will receive friends from 6-8 p.m. Wednesday, at George A. Smith & Sons Funeral Home North Chapel, (731) 427-5555.