In Memory

Tony Kelly, Jr. - Class Of 1967

Joseph Anthony Kelly, Jr., age 64, died on Tuesday, October 22, 2013.

Affectionately known as “TK,” Tony was born in Washington, DC on April 2, 1949, the only child of the late Joseph A. Kelly, Sr. and Bernice Roberts Kelly. Although he lived in many places as the son of an Air Force officer, he was a Tennessean by choice and his heart belonged to the UT Vols. A stockbroker until his recent retirement, TK loved athletics and was physically active nearly every day, either lifting weights, swimming, or playing tennis. His love of football and athletics was evident in his involvement in The Touchdown Club, nearly from its inception in 1975. He was elected president twice and at his death was a board member. He was a Sigma Phi Epsilon at UT Knoxville and maintained a lifelong connection to his many fraternity brothers and college pals. Few people loved socializing more than TK, and he was never happier than when he was attending a Carnival krewe event or organizing a get-together. In the nineties, he spearheaded a monthly soiree that came to be called “Testosterone Tuesday.” He was also an original member and regular at a bi-weekly dinner club known as the “Men's Grill,” which became a dinner club for both sexes. Tony could be counted on to run an errand for a sick friend, make a hospital visit or attend the funeral of a friend's parent. It is probably the care of his own parents in their last days that best distinguished Tony’s life as a person of loyalty and steadfastness. He was a military history buff who remembered dates of all kinds – especially those important to his family and friends. Tony is survived by his beloved daughter, Jill Kelly (Daniel) Talbert, and grandchildren, Audrey (22 months) and Foster (3 months), all of Nashville. His ex-wife and best friend, Stacey Pera, was instrumental in caring for him during his short and unexpected illness. He also leaves a group of friends too numerous to list, who will miss his loyalty and love of life. Visitation in Memphis will be from 9:00-11:00 am at Memorial Park, 5668 Poplar Avenue. A funeral mass will follow at 12:00 pm at The Church of the Holy Spirit, 2300 Hickory Crest Drive , also in Memphis. Both will be held on Saturday, October 26. Graveside services and burial will be held Danville, Illinois at Resurrection Catholic Cemetery on Tuesday, October 29 at 2:00 pm.
In lieu of flowers please send donations in Tony’s honor to the Church of the Holy Spirit, 2300 Hickory Crest Drive, Memphis, TN 38119.

Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Memorial Park Funeral Home and Cemetery, 5668 Poplar Ave. Memphis, TN 38119, (901)767-8930, "Behind the Stone Wall"


Source: Memorial Park Funeral Home
 

Tom Harvey shared this note from Bruce Barrett, fellow '67 alum, 10/22/13:

"Hi Tom,

Just want to let you know that, sadly, Tony Kelly passed away around 2:00am EDT, he had entered the hospital about 8 or 9 days ago after a bad reaction to Chemotherapy he received for non-Hodgkins Lymphoma, that was only discovered about three weeks ago.   Doctors said he would be fine up until yesterday around 3:15 when his body started shutting down.  His heart stopped at 2:08am.

His only living close family, his daughter Jill, a lawyer in Nashville, was with him.

Hope your back is doing great now and all is well up that way.  Call me if you need anything.

Bruce Barrett"

Added 10/24/13:
The viewing will be at the Church of the Holy Spirit on Hickory Crest Drive in Memphis Tennessee from 9:00 a.m. until 11:30 a.m. on Saturday morning.  The funeral Mass will start at 12:00 noon at the same church.  The Memorial Park Funeral Home in Memphis is taking care of the arrangements.  Tony will be buried at a later date in Illinois with his parents.



 
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03/05/14 06:50 PM #1    

Kent Matthews (1967)

Tony was a great friend. I knew he was because he always gave me a hard time and call me "Matthews" instead of Kent.  We became friends right after he moved into Waynewood and stay friends all through our days at Ft. Hunt.  We lost track of each other until about 10 years ago when I looked him up and renewed old friendships. Gave me great advise about Boeing stock that I still have to his day.  Thanks buddy!  I can still hear him calling out to me at the end of hall on the second floor "Matthews".  I learned about loyalty from Tony.  Thanks for being my friend!


06/09/18 07:57 AM #2    

Gordon Jackson (1968)

One of the most gregarious guys I've ever known, and maybe the hardest to stay mad at. He somehow managed to get alone with my most prized possession -- a Dizzy Dean autographed baseball -- and affixed his signature to it. With anybody else it would have taken a lot longer to see the humor in it, and it served as an early lesson in the relative value of material possessions and friendships.


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