LINCOLNTON, GA. - Mr. Lyle E. Kelly, 73, entered into eternal rest while he slept at his Morning Star Farm home on Thursday, November 30, 2017.

Mr. Kelly was a native of Santa Ana, California and the son of the late Hiram and Dorothy Kelly. He was a life long lover of music, animals and adventure which he shared with his wife and children. Mr. Kelly joined the Army Band very early in life, serving in Berlin, Germany at the age of seventeen. After returning home from a tour of duty in 1968, he was assigned to the Fifth Army Headquarters Band at Fort Sheridan, Illinois. There he met his wife of over 49 years while on assignment of laying out the music and design of President Eisenhower's funeral arrangements in Abilene, Kansas. Together they had three loving children. Mr. Kelly had multiple duty stations across the United States including California, Colorado, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and finally Fort Gordon, where he retired after 23 years of service. They moved to beautiful Lincoln County in 1980 where he served as Boy Scout and Cub Scout leader and initiating the first Equestrian 4-H Club and working with the Lincoln County High School Band. Mr. Kelly was a member of Good Shepherd Catholic Church in McCormick, S.C. He was greatly loved by his wife and children and will be the topic of many memoriable stories for years to come.

Survivors include his wife, Veronica B. Kelly; two sons, Lyle E. Kelly, Jr. and wife, Tabatha of Lincolnton and Lance G. Kelly and wife, Amber of New Port News, VA.; one daughter, Katrina M. Bowles and husband, Dale R. Bowles, Jr. of Marietta, GA.; four grandchildren, Tres Kelly, Blake Kelly, Viera Kelly and Aurora Kelly; one brother, George Kelly of Nevada; Mr. Kelly was preceded in death by two brothers, John Kelly and Gene Kelly.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be at 12 noon on Saturday, December 9, 2017 with Father Bob Sayer being the Celebrant. Full military honors will follow at the graveside.

Serving as pallbearers will be Lyle Kelly, Jr., Tres Kelly, Lance Kelly, Dale Bowles, Kurt Gross and Orion Kujala.

If so desired memorials may be made to the Augusta Warrior Project, 701 Greene St., Augusta, GA. 30901.

You may sign the family's online guestbook at: www.reesfh.com .

The Wake will be from 10 until 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, December 9, 2017 at Rees Funeral Home, 195 N. Peachtree St., Lincolnton, GA. 706-359-322