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Emmett Kelly Jr.

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Emmett Kelly Jr. Famous memorial Veteran

Birth
Dyersburg, Dyer County, Tennessee, USA
Death
29 Nov 2006 (aged 82)
Sierra Vista, Cochise County, Arizona, USA
Burial
Sierra Vista, Cochise County, Arizona, USA Add to Map
Plot
Section 1E, Row 2, Site 4
Memorial ID
View Source
Entertainer. The son of Emmett Kelly Sr. and Eva Moore, he was a circus clown that followed in his father's footsteps. He was a Navy veteran serving in Okinawa and Iwo Jima during World War II. Encouraged and trained by his Dad, he donned the "Weary Willie" costume and make-up that his father created. Emmett Jr. signed with Eastman Kodak to appear in their New York World's Fair pavilion. This four year employment with Kodak promoted his fame. He later became the "Silent Spokesman and Ambassador of Goodwill" and visited many children's hospitals throughout the United States. His hobbies included model train collecting. He was also a racecar enthusiast. He was very impressed with the wild west history of Tombstone, Arizona and eventually made it his home. Death was attributed to complications from pneumonia.
Entertainer. The son of Emmett Kelly Sr. and Eva Moore, he was a circus clown that followed in his father's footsteps. He was a Navy veteran serving in Okinawa and Iwo Jima during World War II. Encouraged and trained by his Dad, he donned the "Weary Willie" costume and make-up that his father created. Emmett Jr. signed with Eastman Kodak to appear in their New York World's Fair pavilion. This four year employment with Kodak promoted his fame. He later became the "Silent Spokesman and Ambassador of Goodwill" and visited many children's hospitals throughout the United States. His hobbies included model train collecting. He was also a racecar enthusiast. He was very impressed with the wild west history of Tombstone, Arizona and eventually made it his home. Death was attributed to complications from pneumonia.

Bio by: Number1


Inscription

SIC USN
WORLD WAR II

THE WORLDS MOST BELOVED CLOWN



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  • Maintained by: Find a Grave
  • Originally Created by: Number1
  • Added: Dec 4, 2006
  • Find a Grave Memorial ID:
  • Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/16906572/emmett-kelly: accessed ), memorial page for Emmett Kelly Jr. (13 Nov 1924–29 Nov 2006), Find a Grave Memorial ID 16906572, citing Southern Arizona Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Sierra Vista, Cochise County, Arizona, USA; Maintained by Find a Grave.