William Clark Kelly passed away peacefully after a short illness on October 31, 2014 at Cox Medical Center South in Springfield, Missouri. He was an honorable, generous, intelligent and humorous husband, father, grandfather, brother and friend. Clark was born on February 19, 1936 in Springfield, Missouri to William Clyde and Mary Josephine Wakefield Kelly. He graduated from Springfield Senior High School, the University of Missouri, and the University of Missouri School of Law where he was a member of The Order of the Coif. Clark married Margaret Ann Blake from Crystal City, Missouri and they shared 57 loving years together living in Springfield and Jefferson City, Missouri before retiring back to Springfield. An attorney by profession, Clark was involved in private practice, taught at Missouri State University, and worked in the Missouri Attorney General's Office during his career. Throughout his life his decisions were consistently shaped by his Christian ethics. He was a member of First & Calvary Presbyterian Church. Clark and Margaret experienced a lengthy and wonderful retirement together. He enjoyed professional sports, collecting, attending cultural events, and wintering in Florida. He was a lifelong St. Louis Cardinals fan and a member of the Sigma Nu Fraternity. One of the things Clark enjoyed most was taking his sons on their annual NASCAR race trip weekend. He is survived by his wife Margaret, their three sons and five grandchildren, including: son Kevin Blake (Tracy) Kelly and children Blake and Taylor of Noblesville, Indiana, son Thomas Clark (Lynn) Kelly and children Paige, Scott, and Nathan of Wildwood, Missouri, and son John Wakefield Kelly of Springfield. Clark is also survived by his younger sister Susan Kelly Wheeler of Springfield, Missouri. Visitation will be Thursday, November 6, 2014 at Gorman-Scharpf Funeral Home from 4:30 pm until 7:00 pm. A Memorial Service will be held Friday, November 7 at First & Calvary Presbyterian Church at 1:30 pm with a reception to follow. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the First & Calvary Presbyterian Church Youth & Youth Choir Fund and/or the Boys & Girls Club of Springfield.
