Tommy Joe Kelley

View Video Tribute Tommy Joe Kelley, 74, retired teacher from McDowell Elementary, former principal of Santa Fe School, and resident of Life Care Center of Columbia, died Sunday, January 4, 2015 at Maury Regional Medical Center. Funeral services will be conducted Wednesday at 1:00 P.M. at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home with Rev. Jerry Wallace officiating. Burial will follow in Polk Memorial Gardens. The family will visit with friends Tuesday from 4:00 - 8:00 P.M. and Wednesday from 11:00 A.M. - 1:00 P.M. at the funeral home. Condolences may be extended at www.oakesandnichols.com. The Maury County native was the son of the late Edd Carless Kelley and Mattie Elsie Goodwin Flynt Kelley. Mr. Kelley earned his Associate Degree from Martin Methodist College, Bachelor's Degree from University of North Alabama; Master's Degree and Master's + 45 hours Degree at Middle Tennessee State University. He was a retired English teacher and principal in the Maury County school system, having taught at Hampshire School, McDowell Elementary, and Santa Fe. He was a member of the Maury County Education Association, Tennessee Education Association, and National Education Association. He was also a member of Craft Memorial United Methodist Church. Survivors include his sisters, Mary Ruth Kelley Grooms of Columbia and Linda Kelley Warren of Pulaski; brother, Carl Edward (Jean) Kelley of Williamsport; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by sisters, Sara Elizabeth Flynt Massey and Shirley Fay Kelley Ingrum; and brothers, James Roy Flynt and James Donald Kelley. Active pallbearers will be his nephews. Honorary pallbearers will include members of the Maury County Retired Teachers Association.