Biography
James Henry Kelly, Sr.
(1897 – 1986)
James Henry Kelly, Sr. was born Dec. 19, 1897, one of seven children of Frank George Kelly and Nancy Mannie (Cook) Kelly. He grew up in a small community, now called Kellys, in Jackson Parish, south of Choudrant, La.
Following graduation from Choudrant High school, he moved to Orange, Tx., where he worked as a carpenter at National Shipbuilders Company for a short time.
Shortly before World War I ended, he was in a pre-military program for about six weeks. The war ended before he went on active duty.
He returned to Choudrant and married Ollie Viola Bagwell, also of Choudrant. James and Viola had two children: James Henry Kelly, Jr. and Melrose Kelly.
About 1921, they moved to Shreveport, where James worked as a general carpenter and then started a dry cleaning business. After a short time, he went to work for White Cleaners, as a route salesman. He continued to work there until he retired, about 1964, after 40 years of service with the company. Following retirement, James enjoyed travelling, including boat trips as a passenger on freighters through the Panama Canal and through the Mediterranean to Turkey.
He was a member of the First Baptist Church, where he served as head usher for many years.
James died Sept. 24, 1986 at Bossier Medical Center, Bossier City, La. after a lengthy illness. He was survived by one daughter, Mrs. Melrose Murphree of Shreveport; one son, James H. Kelly, Jr. of Tulsa, Okla.; two brothers, Emmett L. Kelly of Shreveport and William Grady Kelly of Choudrant, La.; one sister, Mrs. Ruth (Kelly) Wroten of Bastrop, La.; four grandchildren, Paula M. Debo of Richardson, Texas; Kathryn M. Shailer of Jacksonville, Fla., Jim Murphree of Norman, Okla., Melanie M. Norris of Ponca City, Okla. and two great-grandchildren.
James was buried Sept. 26 in Forest Park Cemetery East, Shreveport, Caddo Parish, La., following a memorial service at First Baptist Church, Shreveport.
James Henry Kelly, Sr.
(1897 – 1986)
James Henry Kelly, Sr. was born Dec. 19, 1897, one of seven children of Frank George Kelly and Nancy Mannie (Cook) Kelly. He grew up in a small community, now called Kellys, in Jackson Parish, south of Choudrant, La.
Following graduation from Choudrant High school, he moved to Orange, Tx., where he worked as a carpenter at National Shipbuilders Company for a short time.
Shortly before World War I ended, he was in a pre-military program for about six weeks. The war ended before he went on active duty.
He returned to Choudrant and married Ollie Viola Bagwell, also of Choudrant. James and Viola had two children: James Henry Kelly, Jr. and Melrose Kelly.
About 1921, they moved to Shreveport, where James worked as a general carpenter and then started a dry cleaning business. After a short time, he went to work for White Cleaners, as a route salesman. He continued to work there until he retired, about 1964, after 40 years of service with the company. Following retirement, James enjoyed travelling, including boat trips as a passenger on freighters through the Panama Canal and through the Mediterranean to Turkey.
He was a member of the First Baptist Church, where he served as head usher for many years.
James died Sept. 24, 1986 at Bossier Medical Center, Bossier City, La. after a lengthy illness. He was survived by one daughter, Mrs. Melrose Murphree of Shreveport; one son, James H. Kelly, Jr. of Tulsa, Okla.; two brothers, Emmett L. Kelly of Shreveport and William Grady Kelly of Choudrant, La.; one sister, Mrs. Ruth (Kelly) Wroten of Bastrop, La.; four grandchildren, Paula M. Debo of Richardson, Texas; Kathryn M. Shailer of Jacksonville, Fla., Jim Murphree of Norman, Okla., Melanie M. Norris of Ponca City, Okla. and two great-grandchildren.
James was buried Sept. 26 in Forest Park Cemetery East, Shreveport, Caddo Parish, La., following a memorial service at First Baptist Church, Shreveport.
Biography
James Henry Kelly, Sr.
(1897 – 1986)
James Henry Kelly, Sr. was born Dec. 19, 1897, one of seven children of Frank George Kelly and Nancy Mannie (Cook) Kelly. He grew up in a small community, now called Kellys, in Jackson Parish, south of Choudrant, La.
Following graduation from Choudrant High school, he moved to Orange, Tx., where he worked as a carpenter at National Shipbuilders Company for a short time.
Shortly before World War I ended, he was in a pre-military program for about six weeks. The war ended before he went on active duty.
He returned to Choudrant and married Ollie Viola Bagwell, also of Choudrant. James and Viola had two children: James Henry Kelly, Jr. and Melrose Kelly.
About 1921, they moved to Shreveport, where James worked as a general carpenter and then started a dry cleaning business. After a short time, he went to work for White Cleaners, as a route salesman. He continued to work there until he retired, about 1964, after 40 years of service with the company. Following retirement, James enjoyed travelling, including boat trips as a passenger on freighters through the Panama Canal and through the Mediterranean to Turkey.
He was a member of the First Baptist Church, where he served as head usher for many years.
James died Sept. 24, 1986 at Bossier Medical Center, Bossier City, La. after a lengthy illness. He was survived by one daughter, Mrs. Melrose Murphree of Shreveport; one son, James H. Kelly, Jr. of Tulsa, Okla.; two brothers, Emmett L. Kelly of Shreveport and William Grady Kelly of Choudrant, La.; one sister, Mrs. Ruth (Kelly) Wroten of Bastrop, La.; four grandchildren, Paula M. Debo of Richardson, Texas; Kathryn M. Shailer of Jacksonville, Fla., Jim Murphree of Norman, Okla., Melanie M. Norris of Ponca City, Okla. and two great-grandchildren.
James was buried Sept. 26 in Forest Park Cemetery East, Shreveport, Caddo Parish, La., following a memorial service at First Baptist Church, Shreveport.
James Henry Kelly, Sr.
(1897 – 1986)
James Henry Kelly, Sr. was born Dec. 19, 1897, one of seven children of Frank George Kelly and Nancy Mannie (Cook) Kelly. He grew up in a small community, now called Kellys, in Jackson Parish, south of Choudrant, La.
Following graduation from Choudrant High school, he moved to Orange, Tx., where he worked as a carpenter at National Shipbuilders Company for a short time.
Shortly before World War I ended, he was in a pre-military program for about six weeks. The war ended before he went on active duty.
He returned to Choudrant and married Ollie Viola Bagwell, also of Choudrant. James and Viola had two children: James Henry Kelly, Jr. and Melrose Kelly.
About 1921, they moved to Shreveport, where James worked as a general carpenter and then started a dry cleaning business. After a short time, he went to work for White Cleaners, as a route salesman. He continued to work there until he retired, about 1964, after 40 years of service with the company. Following retirement, James enjoyed travelling, including boat trips as a passenger on freighters through the Panama Canal and through the Mediterranean to Turkey.
He was a member of the First Baptist Church, where he served as head usher for many years.
James died Sept. 24, 1986 at Bossier Medical Center, Bossier City, La. after a lengthy illness. He was survived by one daughter, Mrs. Melrose Murphree of Shreveport; one son, James H. Kelly, Jr. of Tulsa, Okla.; two brothers, Emmett L. Kelly of Shreveport and William Grady Kelly of Choudrant, La.; one sister, Mrs. Ruth (Kelly) Wroten of Bastrop, La.; four grandchildren, Paula M. Debo of Richardson, Texas; Kathryn M. Shailer of Jacksonville, Fla., Jim Murphree of Norman, Okla., Melanie M. Norris of Ponca City, Okla. and two great-grandchildren.
James was buried Sept. 26 in Forest Park Cemetery East, Shreveport, Caddo Parish, La., following a memorial service at First Baptist Church, Shreveport.
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