Obituary

Donald Haist Kelley, II, 84, of Warsaw, MO, passed away unexpectedly on September 28, 2024. Don was born September 17, 1940, in Kansas City, MO to Donald H. Kelley, Sr. and Harriet Eugene Vermillion Kelley.

After graduation from high school, Don met the love of his life, Virginia Doyel, while working as a lifeguard at the swimming pool at Unity Village, MO. They were soon married and starting their life together in Lee’s Summit, MO. Thirteen months later Ginny gave birth to their first son, Kevin and two years later their second son, Kirk was born.  They loved raising the boys as such young parents themselves and were always very proud of them both.

Don was an avid sportsman all his life. He loved hunting and fishing and spent his life doing just that. He especially loved hunting deer and turkey. Nothing made him happier than being in the woods, hunting with his family and his hunting buddies.  As a younger man, he raised bird dogs and love training and hunting with them. Don also loved horses and spent many hours going to rodeos and roping with his best friends.  His hobbies over the years included archery, taxidermy, reloading shells, watching hunting movies, making up silly songs and singing in the car, collecting all things hunting and fishing and decorating his man cave with every piece. Everyone who came to their home was always amazed and in awe of his collection. Although Don was a home body and didn’t like to travel much, he always loved it when family and friends came to visit them. He loved spending time with his family and loved them all very much. He was always the life of the party, the class clown, the shortest of all his friends and the one who would do anything to help ya out.

Don is preceded in death by his parents Donald H. and Harriet E. Kelley; in- laws Everett and Wanita Doyel; brother and sister-in-law Hillis and Patricia Doyel.

Don leaves behind his wife of 65 years, Virginia; two sons, Kevin (Tara) Kelley and Kirk (Tammy) Kelley; 4 grandchildren, Chari Lauderdale, Shayla Kelley, Gracen (Derek) Miller and Hunter Kelley; 6 great-grandchildren, Cadance Elizabeth, Riley Lynn, Jolene Catherine, Allie May, Amelia Mary Evelyn and Ava May; nephews Danny (Debbie) Doyel, Jeff (Jackie) Doyel; niece Shelley (Chris) Livingston; cousin Charlie (Anna) Mounts; close family friend who he called sister, Glennus Oxley and bonus son, Jeff (Linda) Goin. He also leaves behind many other family members and close family friends whom he loved and cared about deeply.

Dons spirit will be with us always and we will remember the life lessons he taught us all. We will miss him dearly, the man he was to each of us, but we know he is no longer suffering or in pain. Thank you to all of you who have reached out to our family through personal visits, emails, phone calls, social media, cards and letters. We cherish you all and are blessed to have you in our life.

No service is scheduled because he wanted it that way.  The family will host a Celebration Of Life on October 26, 2024 from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at Big Iron Town, 29608 East 179^th St, A, Pleasant Hill, MO 64080. Please drop by and help us celebrate Dons life and show some love to Virginia and the family.

Arrangements by Langsford Funeral Home, 115 SW 3^rd Street, Lee’s Summit, MO 64063