Mark Kelley

Mark Kelley, age 83, resident of Oakland, Tennessee and husband of Theresa “Terry” Leake Kelley, departed this life Tuesday evening, May 13, 2025 at St. Francis Hospital in Bartlett, Tennessee.

Mark was born July 31, 1941 in Laconia, Tennessee, the son of the late John Ray Kelley and Virginia Cowan Kelley. He graduated from Fayette County High School in Somerville, Tennessee in 1959. Mark was employed as a machinist for International Harvester for many years before his retirement in 1996 and was a self-employed mechanic.

Mr. Kelley was married December 31, 1960 to Theresa “Terry” Leake Kelley and was a member of Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Laconia. He was a member of the Somerville Masonic Lodge Chapter #73 and a Town of Oakland Alderman in previous years. Mark enjoyed hunting, fishing, gardening vegetables, cooking barbecue, watching race cars and his pets. He had many fond memories of family pastimes while at Sardis Lake fishing and camping on the Mississippi River on the Arkansas side. He was on the Tennessee Deer Registry, having a 12-point buck.

Mr. Kelley is survived by his wife of 64 years, Terry Kelley of Oakland, TN; two daughters, Angela Mathis (Phillip) of Fayetteville, TN and Ann Caldwell (Joseph) of Huntsville, AL; his son-in-law, Jeffrey "Jay" St. John; seven grandchildren, Kelley Hess (Christopher) of Hendersonville, TN, Victoria Ward (Joseph) of Fayetteville, TN, Christie Caldwell of Huntsville, AL, Savanna Theresa St. John of Alpharetta, GA, David Caldwell of Knoxville, TN, Justin Mark St. John of Oakland, TN and Joshua Adams St. John of Chattanooga, TN; and four great-grandchildren, Cora Jean Ward, Phillip Henry Hess, Esslie Marie Ward and Robert Kelley Hess.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his daughter, Teresa Susan Kelley St. John and two brothers, Johnnie Kelley and Jimmy Kelley.

Funeral Services for Mr. Kelley were held at 11 A.M. Monday, May 19, 2025 at the Peebles West Funeral Chapel at Oakland with Bro. Mike Hollaway, pastor of Bethlehem Baptist Church in Rossville, Tennessee, officiating.

Those honored to serve as pallbearers were Justin St. John, Josh St. John, David Caldwell, Chris Hess, Joseph Ward and Cross Holmes.

The family requests that memorials be directed to the American Cancer Society, 5101 Wheelis Drive, Suite 100, Memphis, TN 38117.