Curtis Kelley

Curtis D. "Skip" Kelley Jr., 63, of Cape Girardeau died Monday, May 6, 2019, at his home.

He was born March 5, 1956, in Cape Girardeau to Dwight and June Linebarger Kelley.

Survivors include his mother, June Kelley of Cape Girardeau; wife, Peggy Kelley of Cape Girardeau; two daughters, Kendra (Lannie) Harris and Regan (Nick) Laiben, both of Cape Girardeau; stepdaughter, Ashley (Doug) McDaniel of Cape Girardeau; son, Eric (Sarah) Kelley of Ste. Genevieve, Missouri; sister, Cindy Kelley of Cape Girardeau; three brothers, Jeffrey Kelley, Chris L. Kelley and Sean G. Kelley, all of Cape Girardeau; five grandchildren, Hayden Harris of Cape Girardeau, Avery Laiben of Cape Girardeau, Kellan Harris of Cape Girardeau, Jackson Kelley of Ste. Genevieve, Missouri, and Monroe Kelley of Ste. Genevieve.

He was preceded in death by his father, Dwight Kelley.

He was a 1974 graduate of Cape Girardeau Central High School. He briefly attended Southeast Missouri State University, where he was a proud member of Pi Kappa Alpha.

In 1975, he married Jayne Lavon Blattner, together they had three loving children, gifting him five grandchildren whom he loved more than anything.

A dedicated employee and hard worker, he spent his professional career with Nip Kelley Equipment Inc., then Erlbacher Materials Inc. until he finally found his home with the Craftsman Independent Union of which he spent 30 years and retired in death as its president.

Skip was a lifelong fan of the St. Louis Cardinals and the Kentucky Wildcats. A man of few hobbies, he enjoyed the years of fellowship with the Erb softball team. He also enjoyed gardening/lawn work and was an amateur beekeeper. He was a fan of spaghetti westerns and had an affinity for fine Motown music.

The last great love of his life was Peggy Romack Kelley, who he married in 2009. He remained a proud and dedicated husband until the day of death.

He died like he lived -- on his own terms.

Visitation will be from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday at Ford and Sons Mount Auburn Funeral Home in Cape Girardeau.

Funeral will be at 1 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home, with the Rev. Fred Ritter officiating. Burial will be at Fairmount Cemetery in Cape Girardeau.

Memorial contributions may be given to Crown Hospice Inc. or Trinity Lutheran Church.

Online condolences may be made at www.fordandsonsfuneralhome.com.