More detail on this person: Army Warrant
Officer 4 (ret.) Sherrel Don Kelly, 79, of Elba,
Ala., former Altus resident, died Thursday, July
16, 2015, at Southeast Alabama Medical Center in
Dothan, Ala., after suffering a heart attack.
He was born Oct. 8, 1935, at Childress, Texas.
Funeral services were held Friday, July 17, with
Rev. Buddy Hood officiating. Committal services
followed in the White Water Baptist Church
Cemetery.
The Kelly family moved to Altus in 1947. Kelly
was a 1954 graduate of Altus High School where he
was active in FFA, serving as president of his
chapter.
After attending Oklahoma State University, he
joined the U.S. Marine Corps and graduated from
flight school at Pensacola, Fla.
He flew both helicopters and fixed-wing planes and
served multiple tours of duty in Vietnam. He left
the Marine Corps and returned to Altus to farm
with his parents for a time before returning to
military service with the Army, remaining with the
Army and advancing to the rank of Chief Warrant
Officer 4 before receiving his honorable
discharge. Following retirement he continued
serving as a helicopter pilot trainer.
Survivors include his wife, Kathryn Kelly of the
home; three daughters, Sonna R. McCroy and
husband Paul of Wichita Falls, Texas, Sandra L
Brockleman and husband Ronald of East
Stroudsburg, Pa. and Michelle K. Brown of Ozark,
Ala.; three brothers, Jerry D. Kelly of Lubbock,
Texas; Rocky Kelly and Larry Kelly, both of Altus;
two sisters, Jolene of Lewisville, Texas,and Kathy
of St. Louis, Mo.; 10 grandchildren and six
great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Georgia
P. and Jewl Kelly of Altus.
Published in Altus Times from July 28 to July 29,
2015
This information was last updated 05/18/2016
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