Thomas Eugene Kelly, 82, of Gardendale, died Wednesday April 3, 1996. He was born in Virginia, Minnesota on September 10, 1913 to Thomas Joseph Kelly and Grace Eva (King) Kelly. His family moved from Minnesota to Texas in 1929. His father was killed in 1938 in an automobile accident. He served in the army from 1940 to 1945 during World War II. He was a prisoner of war from the end of 1944 until the signing of the treaty that ended the war. In 1952, with the help of friends and family, he traveled to Killough, Northern Ireland to marry his love he met during the war. Tom became a dairy farmer with his business partner and nephew, Armand Pohl. Tom and Mary were very blessed and raised their eight children on the Kelly Farm, residing there until his death.
He was preceded in death by his parents Thomas Joseph & Grace Eva Kelly and a granddaughter Emily in 1990.
Survivors include his wife, Mary Alice (Fitzsimons) Kelly of Gardendale; three sons, James A. Kelly (Mary Stiegler), of Gardendale, Peter Joseph Kelly of San Antonio, Eugene Thomas Kelly (Jeannie Compton) of Gardendale; five daughters, Patricia Ellen Brown (Charles Norville) of Gardendale, Joan M. Arnett (Ron) of Houston, Grace Margaret McCullough (Steve) of Corpus Christi, Maureen E. Bourne (David) of Houston, and Edith K. Hooper (Jeffrey Darwin) of California; three sisters, Mary McFaul of Minnesota, Sarah Pohl of San Antonio and Kay Brown of Cotulla, sister-in-law Agnes Louise Nehr Kelly; ten grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.
Visitation was held on Wednesday, April 3 from 3 to 9p.m. Rosary was recited the same day at 6p.m. at Peters Funeral Home in Cotulla. Mass was celebrated on Thursday, April 4 at 10 a.m. at Sacred Heart Catholic Church with Ft. John Van Lare, celebrant. Interment followed to the Kelly Farm Cemetery in Gardendale. Pallbearers were: Sie Joe Lann, Ned Lann, Buster (Emil) Noll, Jody Shilling, Mike Few, and John Friesenhahn.