Obituary

JOHN WILLIS "Papa" KELLEY, 89, of Ozona, passed away Monday, June 10, 2019, at Shannon Medical Center, in San Angelo. Graveside services will be held at 2:00 PM, Friday, June 14, 2019, at Abernathy Cemetery in Abernathy under the direction of Ramage Funeral Directors of Hale Center.

John was born May 11, 1930 in Abernathy, Texas, to the late Arcado and Alberta Barron
Kelley. John was one of five brothers. He was preceded in death by his mother
and father, three older brothers: E.J., Alfred Lee, and Charley Leroy. He is
survived by wife Nila, son, Scott Allen, grandson, Corey Allen of Ozona, Texas,
grandson, Ross Jonathan and great granddaughter Gracelynn Nicole Kelley of San
Angelo, Texas, and a younger brother Carl Ray and wife, Penny, of Abernathy,
Texas, and many nieces and nephews.

Papa attended school in Abernathy and Petersburg, Texas. At the age of 16, he started
working in the oilfields. At the age of 18, he served in the United States Army as a mechanic
involved in the Korean War. Papa moved to Ozona, Texas in 1978 working as a
consultant in the oilfields before starting several businesses of his own,
including location building, freshwater stations, and towing.