Earl Ray Kelley

BURLEY – Earl Ray Kelley, 96, of Burley, passed away at home Monday, June 26, 2017, with loving family members by his side.

Ray was born October 12, 1920, in Albion, Idaho, the 12th of 15 children born to Sebastian Cabot Kelley and Agnes Ann Bradbury Kelley. His school years were attended in Albion. March 18, 1941, marked the beginning of a 76-year union to his beloved wife, Carrie Ellen Bortz. The couple was married in Declo, Idaho.

Ray was a lifelong, faithful Christian and a cherished member of the Assembly of God church in Rupert. He learned the value of hard work in his youth and held occupations in his life that included farming, working at the Ore-Ida potato processing plant, and at Moyle’s Mink Farm. Outside of his work and family responsibilities, he enjoyed riding horses, reading and hunting.

Ray is survived by his wife, Ellen; children, LaRae (Royce) Tolman of Burley, Richard Kelley of Heyburn, and Jenny (Lewis) Young of Burley; sister, Ellen Kelley Bortz of Klamath Falls, Ore.; 11 grandchildren; 26 great-grandchildren; and 12 great-great-grandchildren, with one on the way. He was preceded in death by his parents; nine sisters, four brothers; one grandchild; one great-grandchild; and one daughter-in-law.

The funeral will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, June 30, at the Rasmussen Funeral Home, 1350 E. 16th St., in Burley, with Pastor Dan Hendricks officiating. Burial will follow at the Albion City Cemetery.

Visitations will be held from 6 until 7 p.m. Thursday, June 29, and from 10 until 10:45 a.m. Friday prior to the funeral, at Rasmussen Funeral home in Burley.

The family would like to thank the Intermountain Home Health and Hospice staff of Burley, especially Stacey, Stephanie, Ilene, Kay, Bridgette, Carrie, and David for the wonderful care they gave our dad and for the kindness they showed our mother and family.