Celebration of Life - Aldridge "Buddy" Lively Kelley

December 5, 1932 – May 31, 2026

Aldridge "Buddy" Lively Kelley was promoted to his heavenly home on Sunday, May 31, 2026 at the age of 93 following complications from a medical procedure. He was born on December 5, 1932 in Galveston, TX, to Frances Madora Kelley and Robert Emmett Kelley during the Great Depression and faced many hardships in his life that defined his character and faithfulness to our Lord Jesus Christ.

At the age of 5 years old, his father retired from the Railroad and the family moved to Plano, TX to be near his mother's family.  The first hardship came at the age of 7 years old, when he, his twin sister Lura Easter, and older sister Betty Boren lost their father in death, and their mother became a widow. He was told that he was the "man of the house" at the tender age of 7 years old. That statement shaped him and who he was for the rest of his life. At the age of 17, he enlisted in the Army as soon as he graduated from Plano High School, requiring his mother's signed permission as he was under the age of 18 years old. The desire for him to enlist in the Army was based on his mindset of "three meals a day and a cot." He faithfully sent his paychecks to his mother to support the family. After his military training, he was deployed to Korea and was on the front line in heavy combat.  He suffered a serious injury when a fellow soldier, a dear friend, stepped on a land mine standing beside him. He also suffered frost bite from being exposed to -40° in Korea that resulted in an 18 month stay in a military hospital in Louisiana. He was a decorated hero and suffered many years from Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome.

In subsequent years, he demonstrated that he was "all in" with everything he did, especially in his faith in Jesus Christ. He was loyal, faithful, and always a provider for his family whenever they needed his help. He loved to quote Psalm 37:25 which reads "I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread." After his discharge from the Army, he was employed at Kraft Foods for 41 years, retiring in 1994. He later came out of retirement and worked for Hertz/Avis Rentals, shuttling cars, then later at the Garland Independent School District, driving a school bus; retiring a total of 3 times.

Mr. Kelley is preceded in death by his parents, Robert and Frances Kelley; his first wife of 42 years, Hulene Jane Kelley; his second wife of 28 years Eunice Alberta Kelley; son Gene Aldridge Kelley; son-in law David Allen Jackson; and half-brother William S. Kelley.

He is survived by his sisters, Lura Easter and Betty Boren; his daughter Bonnie Jane Jackson of Rowlett, TX; grandchildren Serena Moshel Deluna and her children Sierra Rain Kelley and Skye Kelley Danker of Gladewater, TX; Ray Allen Jackson and wife Abbie Jackson and their children Hazel Lillian and Daniel Ray Jackson of Anna, TX; Shanon Larisa Kelley and her children Kendra Brie, Diesel James and Tessa Paige Christensen of Hawkins, TX; Steven Paul Jackson and his wife Claudia and their daughter Luna of Rowlett, TX; Savana Lynnette Rios and her husband Jose of Hawkins, TX; and great-great grandchildren Alexandria Maeve, Avella Lynn Ross and Jordan Larry Smith of Gladewater, TX.

Services for Aldridge "Buddy" Lively Kelley and Eunice Alberta Kelley will be held at First at Firewheel Church at 5500 Lavon Dr, Garland, TX 75040. Visitation will be on Thursday, June 4th 2026 from 5:00 to 7:00 pm. Funeral will be Friday, June 5th 2026 at 10:00 am. Interment will be at Garland Memorial Park, 1600 S Garland Ave, Garland, TX 75040 following the service.