Arthur Fredrick Kelly

Arthur Fredrick Kelly, age 86, of La Grande, died August 31, 2011 at his home. A viewing will be held on Thursday, September 6th from 4:00 until 6:00 p.m. at Daniels~Knopp Funeral, Cremation & Life Celebration Center. A graveside service will begin at 3:00 p.m. on Friday, September 7th at the Island City Cemetery. Following the service there will be a meal at the Riverside Park Pavilion. Those who wish may leave a condolence or sign the on-line guest-book at www.danielsknopp.com. Those who wish may make contributions in his memory to the Grande Ronde Hospital Hospice.

Art was born on December 17, 1925, the son of Percy and Cecelia (Evensen) Kelly in Portland, Oregon. The family later moved to Seattle where he graduated from high school. When he was 18 the family purchased a farm in La Grande and he moved with them to work on it. On February 18, 1949 he married June Edna Courtney in La Grande. In 1951 he began work at Gettings-Lynch, which later became Lynch Motor Company. He worked there ending his career as a salesman, for forty years, retiring in 1991. He also continued working his own farm as well as his parents. He was a member of the Assembly of God. He was a member of the Gettings-Lynch Bowling Team for many years. He enjoyed cutting wood and buying old pickups to fix up and resell. He loved spending time with his family.

Survivors include his children and their spouses, Donald and Nita Kelly, Jimmy and Emi Kelly, Robert and Teresa Kelly, Carol and John Stockhoff and Cindy Kelly, all of La Grande; twelve grandchildren; sixteen great grandchildren and another on the way; sister, Lorain Kelly of La Grande and other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his wife, June, on December 14, 2011 and also by a brother, Donald Kelly and a sister, Mary Raffensberger.

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