Kelly Wade Ussery

Obituary: Kelly Wade Ussery, age 90, died Monday, March 15, 2010 at Roper Hospital, Charleston, SC after a period of declining health. For the past six years he had lived in Brentwood, TN and later, Charleston, SC to be close to his daughter. He was born May 30, 1919 in Montgomery County, NC, the son of the late James David Ussery and Patsy Thompson Ussery. He had lived in Kannapolis since moving here in 1939 from Ellerbe, NC. He was a supervisor for the former Duke Power Company having worked for 30 years until his retirement in 1982. He was a member of North Kannapolis Baptist Church, Kannapolis, NC where he had been active in all phases of church activities throughout the years. He was a devoted mason having been affiliated with Allen-Graham Masonic Lodge #695 for sixty years and where he had also served as treasurer for 37 years. He had a passion for telling funny stories of his years spent on the farm in Richmond County. Kelly was thought of by his family as being a devoted father and father-in-law. He especially received such pleasure being around grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He will definitely be remembered as being a loving man and for pulling practical jokes on friends and family. In addition to his parents he is preceded in death by his wife, Ethel Cole Ussery, who died August 25, 1996; four brothers, Floyd, Delmar, and Oren Ussery; and three sisters, Molly Reynolds, Thelma Mitchum, and Grace Thacker. The funeral service will be 7:00 P.M., Thursday, March 18, 2010 at Whitley's Funeral Home Main Chapel, Kannapolis, NC officiated by Rev. Chris O'Guin. A graveside service will be 2:00 P.M. Friday, March 19, 2010 at Carolina Memorial park, Kannapolis, NC with masonic rites conducted by Allen-Graham Masonic Lodge. The family will receive friends from 5:30 to 7:00 P.M. Thursday prior to the service at the funeral home. Survivors include his daughter, Catherine Ussery Howell & husband, Dewey of Mt. Pleasant, SC; two granddaughters, Abbie McNeil & husband, Tim of Plattsburg, NY and Amberley Skipton & husband, Geoff of Mt. Pleasant, SC; four great-grandchildren, Sam and Max McNeil, Molley Skipton and Isabella Skipton; one brother, Joe Ussery of Ellerbe, NC; and a sister, Marie Hall of Aberdeen, NC Memorials may be made to North Kannapolis Baptist Church, 312 Locust Street, Kannapolis, NC 28081. On-line condolences may be left at www.whitleysfuneralhome.com.
Visitation: 5:30-7:00 P.M. Thursday, March 18, 2010 Whitley's Funeral Home Graveside Service 2:00 P.M. Friday March 19, 2010 Carolina Memorial Park Kannapolis, North Carolina

Service: 7:00 P.M.Thursday March 18, 2010 Whitley's Funeral Home Main Chapel

Interment: Carolina Memorial Park Kannapolis, North Carolina