Obituary of Phillip Kelley

Phillip Kelley 66, of Kingsport passed away on Wednesday, January 1, 2014 at his home. Phillip was born in Holbrook MA, on September 5, 1947 to the late Mildred Ackerman and Richard F. Kelley, the second son of five boys and one girl. He grew up in Brockton, MA, "just down the block for Rocky Marciano", he would tell you. He attended Cardinal Spellman High School and graduated from Brockton High in "66. Shortly after graduation he joined the Army and was off to Vietnam, Echo Co. 2/3 199th LIB, where he was awarded the Bronze Star and was presented a Purple Heart. During his military career he also served 2 tours in South Korea, but he always came "home" to Fort Benning, Georgia. He was a member of the Military Police and that background led him to working security for Kenny Rogers for a short time. The family moved to Wilmington, Delaware where he went to work for the Post Office. An accident caused him to retire and he move to Tennessee where his in-laws lived. Here he was content to faithfully follow and root for the New England teams, Patriots, Bruins, Celtics and of course his beloved Red Sox. He was always a "Yankee" and after 45+ years in the south he still had that accent. In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by his oldest brother, Richard F. Kelley, Jr; his brother, Danny; several aunts, uncles, and cousins; his mother and father-in-law, Dewey & Faye Elam and a sister-in-law, Janet Elam Jenkins Survivors include his loving wife Fonda Elam Kelley; two sons, Bryan P. Kelley, Alabama, Dusty Kelley & wife, Tiffany; two daughters, Amanda Powell & companion Walt Graham, Rachel Austin & husband Dave; his precious grandson Phil (PJ) Kelley, all of Kingsport; sister, Margee Kelley of Cambridge, MA; brother, Paul Kelley & wife Lynn and their son Derick of Wilmington, DE, brother, James Kelley of Weymouth, MA, sister-in-law, MaryAnn Kelley, wife of Richard and their son, Michael and wife Nell and their sons, Colman and Mitchel, all of Kennett Square, PA; Terrence and wife Jennifer Kelley & their children Meredith and Nolan, all of MA; two aunts, Polly Smith and Maury Conners (who was also his God Mother), both of MA; one brother-in-law, David Jenkins of Knoxville, nephew, Chad and his wife Joy Jenkins and their son, Tyler of Church Hill, TN, Jeremiah and his wife Natalee Jenkins and their daughter, Sequoia of Richmond, Ca and his life-long best friends, Arthur and Cathy McClaren of West Bridgewater, MA. The family will receive friends from 1 - 2 p.m. Saturday, January 4, 2014 at St. Dominic's Catholic Church, 2517 N. John B. Dennis Hwy, Kingsport or anytime at the home of the on Lake Street. Funeral Mass will follow at 2 pm with Fr. Michael F. Nolan. Military Graveside services will be held at 11 am on Monday at Mountain Home National Cemetery, Mountain Home, Tennessee conducted by the American Legion Post #3 and #265. Pallbearers are Bryan Kelley, Dusty Kelley, P.J. Kelley, Dave Austin, Walt Graham and C.J. Ward. Honorary Pallbearers are James Kelley and Hunter Blankenbeckler Carter-Trent Funeral Home, downtown Kingsport is serving the Kelley family.