Tom Kelly

(From Clark Funeral Home)

Tom Kelly, age 73, of Wills Point, Texas, passed away on August 2, 2024, at Baylor Scott & White Medical Center of Rowlett, Texas, after succumbing to his broken heart.

Tom was born April 11, 1951, in St. Louis, Missouri, the fourth son of John and Minnie Kelly’s ten children. Around 1956, John and Minnie moved their brood to the small town of Seneca, Missouri, where they would buy a home and become everyone’s neighbor.

Tom was a teenager when his larger-than-life father tragically passed away, leaving Minnie to
raise and provide for their ten children on her own. A labor of love, her children still both praise
and tease Minnie in the stories they recall from their childhood.

After graduating from Seneca High School in 1969, Tom joined the United States Air Force, serving in Thailand and Vietnam. In 1974, he stole the heart of Theresa Owens, and they married on November 7 at Saint Canera’s Catholic Church in Neosho, Missouri. They bought a home and raised three daughters.

Tom moved to his daughter’s Texas ranch in 2019 upon the passing of his wife, Theresa, and was quickly adopted by a sassy yellow lab named Sarah, who accompanied him to feed the farm animals and do his daily fence checks as they rode together in ‘Papa’s’ side by side. Tom had a passion for taking care of the farm animals and learned to raise chickens and help with the cows. He especially loved taking special treats to the donkeys and Wendy’s pet pig, Penny, and being able to walk out his front door to go shooting or fishing as often as he wanted.

The state of Texas was good to Tom Kelly. He felt a sense of pride in being a disabled veteran, and young and old alike thanked him for his service everywhere he went. He also discovered and devoured Tex-Mex and became a devout believer that a margarita could fix anything.

Tom is survived by his three daughters, Wendy Willey and husband, Kevin of Wills Point, TX, Paula Sides and husband, Benjamin of Gulf Breeze, FL, and Julie Browning and partner, Jimmie Hurley of Aurora, MO; five brothers, John, Pat, Mike, Ed, and Joe; two sisters, Marian and Eileen; and twelve grandchildren, Kayla Willey, Stephanie Reutzel, Emily Willey, Kami King, Dominic Moreno, Ashtin Sides, Alexia Sides, Ruth Lay, Reese Sides, Isabella Sides, Dakota Browning, and Hunter Browning.

Tom was preceded in passing by his wife, Theresa; his brothers, Greg and Phil; his mother, Minnie, and his father John.

Services will be held at Saint Mary’s Catholic Church in Seneca, Missouri, located at 1205 Wyandotte St, Seneca, MO 64865, on Thursday, August 8, 2024. Coffee and Donuts will be served in the Church Hall beginning at 9:00 a.m. for everyone to gather and share their memories and stories of Tom. The Funeral Mass is at 10:00 a.m., with burial immediately following.

Tom was not a fancy guy and asked us not to wear our fancy clothes. He said if it was good enough to wear every day, then it’s good enough to wear today.

Tom did not want flowers. He adamantly expressed that anyone who wished to show their love
or support for him during this time should donate school supplies to Granby Elementary c/o East
Newton School District, where his late sister-in-law, Shirley Kelly, was a lifelong educator. You may bring supplies or donations to the service. If you do order flowers, please direct your florist to deliver them between 8:00 a.m. and 9:45 a.m.

Tom was a dreamer, an inventor, and a creator. He was passionate about fixing things and showed love by showing up for you - just not in the way you’d expect, and he probably built a car to get himself there. Why? Because, “It’s a hundred six miles to Chicago. We got a full tank of gas, a half a pack of cigarettes, it’s dark, and we’re wearing sunglasses.”