On May 27, 2024, Herbert Ronald Kelley, passed away at his home in the presence of his devoted family, at the age of 88. He was born on May 7, 1936, in Maxwell, NE, to Henry LeRoy and Louise C. (Yanken) Kelley.
As a child, Herbert lost his mother and was raised by his dad, Roy. After completing high school at Maxwell through the tenth grade, Herbert, his brother, and his dad moved to Raton, NM, where they worked a carpentry job. It wasn’t long before they moved to Canon City, CO and began working in the mines. Though he attended high school with Jacqueline Hiatt, it wasn’t until several years later that the two began dating and were eventually married on August 20, 1962. The couple spent just over 60 years together. Upon their union, Herbert welcomed two children that he raised as his own, Ila and Rick. They then had a son together, Riley. The couple lived in Canon City until 1965 and then moved to North Platte where they settled and Herbert began his business, Kelley Tree Service. He eventually retired in 2002.
Herbert could almost always be found in his yard, doing landscape work of some kind, whether it be on his plants, his flowers, or the rock gardens that contained the thousands of rocks he had hauled back from Canon City. He was very family oriented, holding a special love for his grandkids and Faith was the utmost important to Herbert, being a member of the Parkview Community Church.
Survivors of Herbert include his wife, Jackie of North Platte; children, Ila Bain and Riley (Julie) Kelley; grandchildren, Seth Kelley, Aaron (Erin) Kelley, Casie Thompson, Cory (Katey) Kelley, and Kalob (Isabella) Flamel; great grandkids, Christian (Sammantha) Buck, Jakob (Sierra) Buck, Elsacia (Drew) Buck, Cooper, and Lainey; great-great grandkids, Shia, Olivia, Alaynna, and baby Wylie due in July 2024; grandson-in-law, Jake Buck.
Those preceding him in death are his parents; son, Rick; son-in-law, Kris Bain; great grandson, Kai; siblings, Helen, Lester, Gladys, Dorothy, Jean, Ruby, Ralph, and Melvin.
Memorials are suggested to the Nebraska Arbor Foundation and online condolences may be shared at www.adamsswanson.com.
A funeral service will be held on Monday, June 3, 2024, at 10 AM at the Parkview Community Church with Rev. James Trippett as the officiant. Burial will follow in Plainview Cemetery, Maxwell, NE. Visitation will be held at Adams & Swanson Funeral Home on Sunday, June 2, 2024, from 12 PM to 2 PM with family present to greet friends. Adams & Swanson Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.