Mr. Willie Joe Kelley of Smyrna, previously of Hohenwald, passed away on January 5, 2022, at his residence. He was born on January 16, 1948, in Memphis, Tennesse to the late Willie Harl Kelley and Vivain Mae Troutt Kelley. In addition to his parents, he was preceeded in death by his siblings Johnny (Kathy) Kelley, Coy & Roy Kelley, and Betty (Jim) Nicholson.

Mr. Kelley graduated from Lewis County High School in 1966, where he excelled at football. He had a love for playing pool, poker, and golf. He loved fast cars. He was an avid runner but never seemed to be fast enough to catch the girls he was chasing. After high school, Joe joined the Army and served until an accident forced his early retirement in 1969. He went on to obtain a bachelor’s degree from the University of Tennessee. He made a career in the accounting field as an auditor for the state.

Mr. Kelley is survived by his brothers, Harold (Doreen) Kelley and Kenneth (Kim) Kelley; nieces and nephews, Michael Kelley, Tim Kelley, Vanessa Rye, Sunny Nicholson, Ricky Nicholson, Donald Nicholson and Brian Kelley; as well as a host of great nieces and nephews, great-great nices and nephews, friends and extended family.

Mr. Kelley’s visitation will begin at 9:00 AM on Sunday, January 9, 2022 at McDonald Funeral Home – Lewis County; funeral services will begin at 10:00 AM. Burial will follow in Beech Grove Cemetery in Pleasantville, TN.