Thomas Kelly

SEQUATCHIE Thomas Blackston Kelly, 69, passed away Saturday, Nov. 3, 2012, at an acute care center in Chattanooga.Born Nov. 10, 1942 in Richard City, Tenn. to Avon Rogers and Fowler Kelly.Tommy was preceded in death by his parents, brother, James Richard Kelly; and sister, Carolyn Dianne Kelly; grandparents, Nora Sisk and Richard Ray Kelly and Florence Quarles and James Washington Rogers.Tommy served in the U.S. Navy and was assigned to the Marine Corps to serve in Vietnam as a medic. He worked for Norfolk Southern Railroad and retired as road foreman of engines with 30 years of service. He went on to work for Bailey Construction until earlier this year.Later in life his passion was riding his mules. He proudly rode in local parades and competed in local and state shows. His mules competed and placed in the 2009 and 2010 Racking Horse World Celebration in Decatur, Ala. One of his proudest moments was his win at the 2010 state Mule show, in Columbia, Tenn., on his mule, Jemima.He is survived by his children, Tonya Spiears and Clayton Kelly, of Muscle Shoals, Ala.; a special daughter Carolyn (David) Mathley, of Lookout Valley, Tenn.; cousins, Ann "Sister" Rogers and Taffy Wilson, of Sequatchie, James G. Rogers, of Knoxville, Albert, Jean, Laura Jean and Frankie Kelly, of Muscle Shoals, Ala., Brenda Ladner, of Muscle Shoals, Steve Ladner and Mark Ladner, of Sheffield, Ala., Michael Ladner, of Redland, Calif., Mary Rogers Cash and children of Jasper, Tenn,, Dottie Rogers, of Kimball, Tenn.; grandchildren, Carrie Ann (Josh) Wyatt, of South Pittsburg, Tenn., and Dustin Sneed, of Whitwell, Tenn.; best friend, Leon Bailey and his wife, Sandra and son, Heath Bailey, of Jasper, Tenn.; special friends, Steve and Mika Dapp, of Sequatchie, Kenny and Dawn Ruth, of Whitwell, Tenn., and Kenneth Seagraves, of Shelbyville, Tenn.A Celebration of Life service will be held at 7 p.m. today Nov. 8, at Rogers Funeral Home in Jasper, Tennn. Interment with military honors will be held at 10 a.m. CST on Friday at Chattanooga National Cemetery.In lieu of flowers, please send memorial contributions to the Sequatchie Valley Honor Guard c/o John Carson Sr., 3511 Shellmound Road, Jasper, TN 37347.Condolences may be left on the website www.rogersfuneralhome.com.The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 p.m. today at the funeral home.