Kelly, V. E., 1915-2008

Verner Earl Kelly; also known as Tex Kelly; born July 3, 1915, Longview, Texas; died May 26, 2008, at the Marshes on Skidaway Island, near Savannah, Georgia; Born and reared in Longview, Texas, July 3, 1915, he spent most of his life in Savannah, Georgia. As a boy in Texas he became a Boy Scout and attained the rank of 'Eagle' which he cherished his whole life. He attended public schools there and went on to Harvard College, Class of 1937, and Harvard Graduate School of Business, Class of 1939.

In November, 1939, he married Margaret Orne of Boothbay Harbor. They lived New York City, Hudson Falls, New York and Savannah, Ga. during his years with the Union Bag and Paper Company where he became corporate director of Environmental Protection in 1971.

He enjoyed golf, was a music lover, both good jazz and classical and had a very large record collection.

In Savannah, Mr. Kelly was involved in many organizations including Rotary Club, Public Library system, Savannah Golf Club, United Community Appeal, Greenbriar Children's Center, Y.M.C.A., Coastal Empire of Boy Scouts, Chamber of Commerce, Little Theater, Memorial Hospital, County Welfare Board, the Board of Health, Country Day School, and was a Chatham County Commissioner. He was a Deacon of the First Presbyterian Church.

During residency in Madison, N.J., he was active in United Fund, Kent Place School, and the Madison United Fund Campaign.

Back in Savannah, in 1971, he was active in the following: First Federal Savings & Loan Assn., Savannah State College annual community support campaign, Chatham County Cardio-vascular Board of the Chatham County Dept. of Family and Children's Services, Historic Savannah Foundation, Rotary Educational Fund, Georgia Historical Society, Landings Association, Landings Fire Department, Landings Bylaws Committee, and a Paul Harris Fellow.

A member of the Madeira Club, he wrote papers on many topics including the History of the Madeira Club, and a book titled: 'A Short History of Skidaway Island.' He was a past member of The Oglethorpe Club, Savannah Yacht Club, Morris County (N.J.) Golf Club, Boothbay Harbor Yacht Club and the Boothbay Country Club.

He was predeceased by two sons, Thomas and Richard; Survivors include his wife of 68 years, Margaret; two daughters, Virginia and her husband Henry Tison, Jr., and Margaret and her husband David Tew; grandchildren, Catherine T. Eurell, Eleanor T. Dailey, Dana K. Bullivant; 12 great-grandchildren; his sister, Mary Virginia Skipper, age 101, of Lake Charles, La.,; and several nieces and nephews.

Vernon E. "Tex" Kelly (b. 1915) was born on July 3 in Longview, Texas. He moved to Savannah, Georgia in 1942 and took up residence on Skidaway Island in 1974. Kelly was employed by the Union Camp Corporation and retired in 1975.