George Kelly

George Kelly, 86, passed away peacefully at home after a three year illness in Kempner on Monday, March 28, 2016. Graveside Services will be at 9:00 a.m., Thursday, March 31, 2016 at Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery in Killeen. Visitation will be from 5-7 PM on Wednesday at Scott's Funeral Home in Copperas Cove.

George entered the Navy in 1947 at age 17 and served 10 years in naval intelligence, planning to retire at 37 and become an agent. In 1957, while attending University Avenue Baptist Church in Hawaii, God called him into the ministry. He is a graduate of William Carey University in Hattiesburg, Mississippi and New Orleans Baptist Seminary in Louisiana. He pastored churches in Mississippi, Georgia, West Virginia, and Ohio. He helped to form the West Virginia Baptist State Convention. After retiring from fulltime ministry in Ohio, he served as Senior Adult Minister for fourteen years at Huber Heights First Baptist Church in Ohio. He also served as an Interim and Pulpit Supply Pastor in the Greater Dayton Baptist Association. George and Betty moved to Austin, Texas where he continued to be an Interim and Pulpit Supply Pastor in the Austin and Killeen area Baptist Associations until age 85. Besides preaching, in 1990, he was endorsed by the Southern Baptist Convention Home Mission Board as a Chaplain in the Air Force Auxiliary (CAP). He attended and taught classes for the CAP Staff Colleges in both Ohio and Texas. He served as Deputy Ohio Wing Chaplain and was chosen as chaplain of the year in 2002. In Texas, he was also a Deputy Wing Chaplain until he retired in 2013 as a Lieutenant Colonel. George and Betty served in short term missions through the International Southern Baptist Mission Board in Bourmouth, England, Cardiff, Wales, Dublin, Ireland, Seoul, Korea, Puerto Rico, and Honolulu, Hawaii. For the Southern Baptist Convention Home Mission Board, he was sent to many churches throughout the United States for “On Mission Celebrations” bringing messages on the “Call to Missions”. He also brought worship services on cruise ships, retreats, revivals, airshows, etc.

George is survived his wife of 63 years, Betty Kelly; daughter, Cheryl Vanderlee; sons, Tom Kelly and wife, Reva, Daryl Kelly and wife, Cathy, John Kelly and wife, Sue; 11 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren.

Life Verse: Proverbs 3:5 & 6 “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”

His last desire was for all to come on this journey to Heaven with him; put Jesus first in all you say and do.

In lieu of flowers, memorial may be made to Mission through their local church.