Gary Knight Kelly

Gary Knight Kelly 89, of Columbus, Georgia died Monday, August 09, 2021 at St. Francis Hospital.

A Celebration of Life service will be held 2:00 PM Tuesday, August 24, 2021 in the Chapel of McMullen Funeral Home and Crematory 3874 Gentian Blvd. Columbus, Georgia 31907 with the Reverend Dr. John H. Hatcher and Mrs. Betty Moody as eulogist. The family will receive friends following the services at the funeral home.  Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we encourage everyone to make the best decisions to remain safe. If anyone wishes to attend the chapel service, please remember to remain 6 feet apart from those not in your household and wear personal protective equipment.

Mr. Kelly was born December 26, 1931 in Dothan, Alabama son of the late Richard E. and Winnie Knight Kelly. Gary graduated from Columbus High School where he excelled in sports. He is the only male athlete in the school’s history up to the present who lettered in every sport offered as a varsity player, and led many of these sports to State Championships. He attended Auburn University where he was a member of Kappa Alpha order fraternity and served in the U.S. Navy during the Korean Conflict aboard an aircraft carrier in the pacific.

Gary retired from Harvey Lumber Company as the Appliance Sales Manager. His department was the first in the company’s history to achieve one million dollars in sales. Gary never met a stranger and was friend to all. He will be greatly missed.

Other than his parents, Gary was preceded in death by his sister Janie Baer and his brother R.E. Kelly.

Survivors include his wife of 50 years, Evelyn Redmond Kelly; son, Timothy Michael Kelly of Columbus, Georgia; sister, Richenda “Cindy” Kelly Straus of Columbus, Georgia; stepchildren, Peggy Duke and Max Duke (Valerie) of Huntsville, Alabama, grandchildren, Russell Chandler Kelly of Nashville, Tennessee, Jackson Scott Kelly, U.S. Army, Andrew Lee Kelly of Columbus, Georgia, Kenny Duke of Columbus, Georgia; niece, Karen Kelly of Columbus, Georgia, nephews, Jack Straus, Jr. (Karen) of Dallas, Texas, Dr. Dickie Straus (Julie) of Cape Girardeau, Missouri, Robert Gay and David Long of Sacramento, California and numerous great and great-great nieces and nephews.

Those who wish may sign the online guest registry at www.mcmullenfuneralhome.com