Benjamin Luke Kelly was born to John Hampton Kelly and Catherine Cecilia McGrath on Nov. 28, 1925, in Honey Creek. Catherine’s health issues called for Ben and his brother, Lester, to be raised by John’s sister, Elizabeth (Lizzy) Stewart and Elijah, in their home in Missouri Valley. After Lizzy’s death, her daughter, Edna Query and Vernard aka Pat, opened their home to the boys in Missouri Valley. They also provided a loving home to Eva Marie Larson Seyler (Donny). Ben served in the U.S. Navy during WWII aboard the USS Bailey as a hot shell gunman on a 5-inch gun. On discharge, he came to Kansas City, Mo. and attended watchmaking school. In Kansas City, he met Mary Ann Lewis and married on Oct. 9, 1951. He went on to be service manager for Smith Corona Marchant, maker of mechanical calculators and adding machines, and later became owner of A&A Wornall Rental with his wife. After Mary Ann’s death on Sept 19, 1995, he continued to enjoy being with his family, travelling, and volunteering at the Trailside Center. He also enjoyed friendships and events at the Fairmont Community Center. After selling the family home in 2015, he moved to The Groves in Independence, Mo., where he enjoyed new friendships while in independent living and later in skilled nursing care. He is preceded in death by his wife, Mary Ann; and brother, Lester Franklin Kelly (Edna). He is survived by daughter, Donna Katherine Kelly (Keith Krieger) of Kansas City, Mo., and Dennis Jay Kelly (Michelle) of Lee’s Summit, Mo. He has three granddaughters by Dennis; Morgan Elizabeth Kelly, and twins Caitlin Michelle Silverstein (David), and Lauren Catherine Kelly (Drew Soper). Burial will be at Mt. Olivet Cemetery in St. Joseph, Missouri with his wife. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to your favorite charity.
