Thurman Lee Kelley's Obituary
Thurman Kelley Obituary
Thurman Lee Kelley was born October 30, 1956, in Sperry, Oklahoma. He was the son of Jesse Alford and Mary Lee (Charley) Ragsdale. Raised in Vinita, that is where Thurman attended school. From an early age, he had a love for music. Thurman had an extensive record collection that dates back to the 1960s/1970s. He enjoyed playing his records every chance he got.
Thurman resided at Copps Residential Care in Claremore, OK for many years and he was a longtime member of Home of Hope, where he made many friends. A bit of an entrepreneur, while living at Copps, Thurman once began selling cups of coffee from his room for $0.25 a cup, which resulted in his coffee pot privileges being revoked. Thurman would just smile from ear to ear when his oldest sister, Suzanna would have to get on to him for breaking the rules. Thurman met his girlfriend/companion, Thelma, while living at Copps. He took care of Thelma the best way he could - everyday he would give her his day money so that she could enjoy some extras snacks from the vending machine, while he went without. The past two years, Thurman had been living with his niece, Alisabeth, where he became known as "Papa" to his great-niece, Marlee Jo. Papa and Marlee Jo would spend every evening together hanging out and taking care of Marlee's baby dolls.
Thurman passed from this life on Sunday, June 11, 2023. He was 66.
He was preceded in death by: his mother, Mary Lee (Charley) Ragsdale; his father, Jesse Alford Kelley; brothers: Charley and Jesse Kelley; sister, Suzanna (Kelley) Narcomey; niece, Kelley Sue Pierce and a great-nephew, Garrett Brooks.
He is survived by: his sister, Mary Anne (Kelley) Bell; nieces: Alisabeth Narcomey, Autumn and Shelby McGehee, Chloe Heilman, and his 'granddaughter' Marlee Jo Hvsotvtes Narcomey-Higgins.
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