Obituary – Allen Kelley

Published 11:33 am Tuesday, January 28, 2025

Allen Kelley, 66, a resident of Goshen, passed away at Luverne Health and Rehabilitation on Sunday, Jan. 19. A celebration of his life was held on Monday, Jan. 27, at 1 p.m. at The Venue at the Hanger on Airport Road in Luverne.  

Allen possessed such a heart of gold that his love and kindness shone brightly in the lives of all who knew him. He not only treasured his immense family, but also the many lifelong friends he made throughout his life… which is the best testament to his special loyalty and love for his family and friends. Once you met him, you weren’t likely to forget that highly distinctive laugh and a personality as big as Texas! He was always determined to live his life to the fullest and he certainly did that. 

In his free time, you could often find him cheering on the Alabama Crimson Tide on the gridiron or watching his favorite Westerns. He was usually in the company of his beloved bulldog companions: Kelley who went on ahead of him and Boss who still misses him daily. Like his father, he loved tending to his garden to supply his kitchen because he was an excellent cook. There were few things he enjoyed more than feeding the multitude, and they all especially loved his red beans and rice and camp stew. Above all, he was a loving son, brother and uncle who was a beloved member of a family who will miss him more than words could possibly express. 

Allen was preceded in death by his parents, Cecil (Dean) Kelley and Sue (Lonell) Wells. He is survived by his daughter, Shannon Kelley; grandchildren, Joelene and Brody Kelley; siblings, Denise Carter, Peggy (Phillip) Garner, Paula Lambert, Jeffrey Kelley, Karen (Bobby) Pettus, Danny Wells, Connie (Michael) Hurst and Tim (Ashley) Wells; and a host of nieces, nephews, extended family members and friends.