Thomas Blackston Kelly, 69, of Sequatchie, Tennessee, passed away Saturday, November 3, 2012 at an acute care center in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
Born November 10, 1942 in Richard City, Tn., to Avon Rogers and Fowler Kelly, he was also preceded in death by his brother, James Richard Kelly; sister, Carolyn Dianne Kelly; and 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 Corp 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, AL. One of his proudest moments was his win at the 2010 State Mule show in Columbia, TN on his mule, Jemima.
He is survived by his children, Tonya Spiears and Clayton Kelly of Muscle Shoals, AL; a special daughter, Carolyn (David) Mathley of Lookout Valley, TN; cousins, Ann “Sister” Rogers and Taffy Wilson of Sequatchie, TN, James G. Rogers of Knoxville, TN, Albert, Jean, Laura Jean and Frankie Kelly of Muscle Shoals, AL, Brenda Ladner of Muscle Shoals, AL, Steve Ladner and Mark Ladner of Sheffield, AL and Michael Ladner of Redland, CA; grandchildren, Carrie Ann (Josh) Wyatt of South Pittsburg and Dustin Sneed of Whitwell, TN; best friend, Leon Bailey and his wife, Sandra and son, Heath Bailey of Jasper, TN; special friends, Steve and Mika Dapp of Sequatchie, TN; Kenny and Dawn Ruth of Whitwell, TN and Kenneth Seagraves of Shelbyville, TN.
A Celebration of Life service will be held on Thursday, Nov. 8, at 7 p.m. CT at Rogers Funeral Home in Jasper, TN. The family will receive friends from 5-7 p.m. on Thursday at the funeral home.
Interment with military honors will be held at 8:30 a.m. CT on Friday, Nov. 9, at the Chattanooga National Cemetery in Chattanooga.
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.