The Record Newspapers - Hometown News For Orange County, Texas

Lee J. Kelly, 94, of West Orange, passed away Friday, May 17, at his home in Many, La. Funeral services will be 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, May 21, at Claybar Funeral Home Chapel in Orange. Officiating will be the Rev. David Millner, pastor of Calvary Baptist Church in West Orange. Burial will follow at Orange Forest Lawn Cemetery in West Orange. Visitation will begin at 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, at the funeral home.

Born in Toro, La., on Sept. 28, 1918, Lee was the son of Alvarado Fernando Kelly and Edwin (McNeely) Kelly. A Veteran of the U.S. Army during WWII, Lee served as an Honor Guard at the Nuremberg Trials, a series of military tribunals held by the Allied forces of WWII for the prosecution of prominent members of the political, military and economic leadership of Nazi Germany. Lee retired from DuPont Sabine River Works as a guard.

Lee enjoyed fishing with his grandchildren and teaching them how to drive on the back roads of Louisiana. He also enjoyed deer hunting with his many friends.

He was preceded in death by parents; wife, Corene Kelly; three sisters; and one brother.

Lee is survived by his son, Willie Joe Soape and wife, Juanita of Orange; three daughters, Bobbye Carroll Scarber and husband, Prentice, Peggy Soape Armentrout Taylor and husband, Ken and Janice Ann Soape Burns and husband, Ronnie all of Orange.

Lee is also survived by his nine grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; four great great-grandchildren; two nephews, Willie Hayes, Jr. and Charles Kelly; and three nieces, Bess Sauls, Brenda Woodall and Karen Buxton.

Serving as Pallbearers will be Robert Armentrout, Chuck Burns, Willie Hayes, Jr., Kirby Alford, Gary Alford and Paul Peveto. Honorary Pallbearers will be Don Kelly and Wilbur Wilson.