Daniel Bailey Kelley

1938 - 2015

Daniel Bailey Kelley obituary, 1938-2015, Fair Oaks, CA

BORN

1938

DIED

2015

FUNERAL HOME

Forest Park Westheimer Funeral Home and Cemetery

12800 Westheimer Road

Houston, Texas

Daniel Kelley Obituary

Published by Legacy Remembers on Mar. 11, 2015.

On March 9, 2015 our precious Dan (Daniel Bailey Kelley) went home to the Lord. Dan was born in Shawnee, Oklahoma on November 11, 1938 to Alan and Doris Kelley, the oldest of three sons. He reminisced often of wonderful summers spent with all his cousins and family in rural Kansas near El Dorado. He graduated from Tulsa Central High School in 1956 where he excelled in academics and was a member of the varsity wrestling team, which was well known as one of the top wrestling schools in the state of Oklahoma.

Dan attended Graceland College in Lamoni, Iowa, where he met the love of his life, Sharon McCormick (Kelley) and developed many wonderful friendships which he maintained throughout his life. In 1958, Sharon and he were married and moved to Stillwater, Ok to complete their university studies at Oklahoma State University (OSU). Dan received a BA degree in Business Administration in 1960. The couple started a family soon thereafter and enjoyed every minute of raising their two daughters.

After graduation, he was recruited to participate in a management training & development program with Exxon Oil Company in Denver, CO, after which, he decided to return to OSU to earn a Masters Degree in Business Administration. He then accepted a position with Northern Natural Gas Corporation in Omaha, NE. In 1967, the family settled in Houston, after he accepted a position as assistant to the Vice President of Gas Supply at Panhandle Eastern Pipeline Corporation and Trunkline Gas Company. Dan advanced his career with Panhandle within the Gas Marketing Department and after a short period he was promoted to the position of Senior Vice President of Marketing and Gas Supply where he had an outstanding career with the Company before retiring after 21 years. His special expertise was negotiating contracts –where he always faithfully represented the Company's interests while still believing that a contract couldn't really be called "good" unless both sides benefitted. In 1988, he and Sharon embarked on a new adventure as they relocated to Mandeville, LA after he accepted a position at Graham Resources to create, organize, and lead a natural gas marketing subsidiary for the company.

He soon came to love Louisiana, just as he loved Texas. He and Sharon relished every aspect of southern Louisiana life including the great history, wonderful food, and rich culture, and they especially enjoyed sharing it with their many friends and family. After his second retirement, Dan stayed busy for many years working as a volunteer leader with Community Concerts, an organization that is dedicated to bringing musical groups and other cultural events from all over the world to a small community like Mandeville, which normally is a venue too small to attract such outstanding live entertainment and culture. He also enjoyed traveling, singing in their church choir, and was an avid reader and golfer.

Dan was a man of great faith and integrity-we could always count on him to live his life according to his principles. He was optimistic, patriotic and always encouraging. He was a devoted husband, loving father and loyal friend. He will be greatly missed by his family and many friends. He is preceded in death by his wife Sharon Kelley. He is survived by his daughters and sons in law, Art and Dana Neville (Fair Oaks, CA) and Jimmie and Lori Day (Houston, TX), his grandchildren, Patrick and Laura Neville, Hayley and Carter Day, as well as his brothers, Dr. Mark Kelley (Tulsa) and Glen Kelley (Houston) and his beloved in-laws and nieces and nephews.

A celebration of his life will be held at Forest Park Funeral Home – Westheimer on Saturday, March 28, 2015 at 2:00pm and will be preceded by a reception at 12:30pm. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to Wounded Warriors or a charity of your choice.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

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2 Entries

January 18, 2016

Leeann Niccolini

Dear Lori and Dana,

I am so sorry to hear of the loss of both your Mother and your Father. I have such fond memories of their smiles and kindness from my years on Valley Glen Dr in Houston. Your parents had been kind enough to keep in touch with me through the years via Christmas cards each year, and it was clear how much they loved their daughters, sons in law and grandchildren! I was blessed to have known them.
Love,
Leeann Lewis Niccolini (and Marvin Lewis, Marsha Lewis and Richard Lewis)

March 23, 2015

Bethina Sherman- McCool

I was blessed to have Dan, Sharon, Dana & Lori move next door when I was but 5 or 6. What a beautiful and sweet family. I remember the many days of laughter, sleepovers, holidays and family times shared with the Kelleys. I always felt that they were the "real" life Rock Hudson and Doris Day of my world. Sweet couple, taking evening walks after dinner - 30 years before it became fashionable and always such good parents and friends. I will never forget the infamous trip Dana, April and I took at 12 yrs old on Amtrak to Independence, Missouri to visit their grandparents. What a hoot! Mr. Kelley is with Jesus, Sharon, my Dad (Bill) and other loved ones now, but he will always have a special place in my heart with too many memories to share here. He and Sharon both were such a true gift from God and blessing to my life - even now with beautiful memories I will always treasure!

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Funeral services provided by:

Forest Park Westheimer Funeral Home and Cemetery

12800 Westheimer Road, Houston, TX 77077

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