Clayton Kelley

Clayton Kelley, 88, of Peru died Friday, January 25, 2013 at his home. A memorial service will be held 1 p.m., Friday, February 1st, at Ochiltree Funeral Service in Winterset with a reception to follow at the Peru United Methodist Church. A visitation will be held 3 to 8 p.m., Thursday, January 31st, at Ochiltree’s with family present to receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Memorials may be made to the Peru United Methodist Church. Orlen Clayton Kelley was born August 4, 1924 in Maryville, Missouri; the son of Orlen Oliver and Mattie Marie (Clayton) Kelley. He was raised and schooled in rural Nodaway County and graduated high school from Pickering, Missouri. Clayton enlisted in the Marine Corp during World War II and while serving in Okinawa was awarded the Purple Heart and Silver Star. He married Dorothy Rickman and three children were born to this union, Patrick, Pamela and Kregg. Clayton was a rural carrier for the U. S. Postal Service from 1949 until he retired in 1984. He served his postal career in Pickering, MO, Hemet, CA and Peru, IA. The Postal service awarded him its “Million Mile Safe Driving Award.” Clayton married Elaine Wambold in 1974 and together they raised three children, Lisa, Edward and Erin on their farm near Peru. He was devoted to his family, friends and shall be deeply missed by all who had the pleasure of knowing him. Those left to honor his memory are his wife, Elaine Kelley of Peru; his children, Patrick (Marianne) Kelley of Salisbury, MD, Pamela (John) Ramsey of Manitou Springs, CO, and Kregg (Karen) Kelley of Lahaina, Hawaii; step-children, Lisa (Tod) Demuth of Eudora, KS, Edward Schultz of Eudora, KS, and Erin Mohror of Peterson; grandchildren, Shane Kelley, Sean and Cara Ramsey, Derrick and Caleb Mohror, and Levi, Kate and Evan Demuth; and two sisters, Willetta Geagley and Virginia Lett both of Maryville, MO. He was preceded in death by his parents and a sister, Ruth White.