Claiborne Luck Kelly, Jr., passed away peacefully at his home, Kelly?s Bottom, in Scott County, Virginia, on Saturday, February 3, 2007, of Cerebral Vascular Dementia.
Clay was born on July 12, 1937, in Kingsport. Clay graduated from Dobyns- Bennett High School in 1955 and earned a B.A. degree, with majors in French and History, from East Tennessee State College in 1960. On September 30, 1961, he married Sally Brinkley, of Johnson City, Tennessee. They lived most of their adult lives in Washington, D.C., and Alexandria, Virginia, where Mr. Kelly worked for the District of Columbia Government until his retirement in 1995. His passionate pastime was fishing, which led to travels, collections of gear, and great skill at rod building. He was a voracious reader and a fan of bluegrass and classical music. His mentors for the past thirty years and three hundred and forty days were the late Mr. Bill Wilson and his associates. In 1998, Clay and Sally moved to their new home beside lovely Copper Creek, in the Midway section of Scott County after Sally retired from a teaching career in Alexandria.
His parents were Margaret Moseley Kelly and Claiborne Luck Kelly, Sr., both deceased.
Clay is survived by his wife, Sally, of Kelly?s Bottom; three daughters, Lea Kelly Self and husband J. H. Self Jr., of Kingsport, Jane Kelly and husband Jon Bowen of Charlottesville, Virginia, and Rebecca Kelly and husband Joshua Kelly of Longmeadow, Massachusetts. Clay leaves six extraordinary grandchildren, Christian and Jordan Self, Eleanor and Clay Bowen, and Jacob and Sarah Kelly; one sister, Carol Ann Black and husband Frank Black of Danville, Virginia.
The family will receive friends from 5-7 p.m. Monday at Hamlett Dobson Funeral Home, Kingsport.
Services will be conducted at 7 p.m. Monday at the funeral home with Father Rollie Hautz officiating.
Interment will be at Kelly?s Chapel Cemetery in Glade Spring, Virginia, where the family will gather for a private graveside ceremony on Tuesday.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in his honor to Wellmont Hospice, Furnishings Fund, 280 Steeles Road, Bristol, TN 37620.
Please visit www.hamlettdobson.com to send condolence to the family. Hamlett Dobson is serving the Kelly family.