Obituary

Clara Ann Perry Kelley
(April 30, 1934 - December 9, 2018)

CLARA ANN PERRY KELLEY, 84, of Huntington, W.Va., passed away December 9, 2018. Clara was born April 30, 1934, in Huntington, WV, to Arnold Vince Perry and Mattie May King Perry. She has five sisters, Glenna Hall, Huntington, WV, Doris June (deceased), Voni Jones, Huntington, WV, Joni Chinn (deceased), Judy Gilkerson, Huntington, WV, and one brother, John David Perry (deceased). She married Larry James Navy (deceased), and together they had one son, L. Victor Navy, and two daughters, Margo Lizette "Liz" Navy Owens and Angela Gail "Angel" Navy Perry. Later in life she married Ralph Lee "Skip" Kelley, gaining two stepchildren, Michael Kelley and Kimberly Kelley, and together they had one daughter, Kathleen Claire "K.C." Kelley Cameron. Clara earned her Bachelor's in Education at Marshall University and went on to earn Master's degrees in both Art and Counseling. She held many professional positions at several places; however, all of them were focused on improving the lives of others. She taught High School and Junior High School Art and English. She was a Supervising Specialist for the Girl Scouts of America. She was a social worker and a specialist for unwed mothers. She was an employment specialist with the NAACP and a lead advocate for the mentally ill in the state of West Virginia. But the crowning jewel of all her professional achievements in her eyes was without a doubt the H.E.L.P.'em ANCHOR group-home for teenage boys. It was so much more than a job to her; it was a calling. She loved all of the boys that walked through those doors. They truly became family. Clara was her happiest and at her best when she was helping others. And she spent her life doing just that. Along the way she taught those of us around her many, many life lessons including all people are good, some of them are just in very bad situations. You can bloom no matter where you are planted. There are no strangers here - only friends we haven't met. And she also taught us many practical things like if you can't find your glasses, they are probably on top of your head. No matter how big you make your key chain, you can still lose your keys. Zinc will improve your memory - if you can remember to take it. And my favorite lesson was there is a song that goes with every word in the English language, and she knew the words to all of them! Clara is survived by her children, L. Victor Navy (Debbie Navy), Huntington, WV; Margo Lizette "Liz" Navy Owens (Dean Paul Owens), Wrightstown, NJ; Angela Gail "Angel" Navy Perry (Mark Anthony Perry), Barboursville, WV; Kathleen Claire "K.C." Kelley Cameron (Scott Reuel Cameron), Pasco, WA; and her stepson, Michael Kelley, Huntington, WV; 18 grandchildren and 23 great-grandchildren. Visitation will be Saturday, December 15, 2018, from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 5640 Shawnee Drive, Huntington, WV, and the funeral services follow at 1 p.m. and will be conducted by Bishop Mark Perry. Burial will be in White Chapel Memorial Gardens, Barboursville, WV. Wallace Funeral Home, Barboursville, is assisting with arrangements.