Donald Ray Kelly, Sr., 79, was born August 1, 1935 in Palacios, TX to the late Lawrence and Ella Cosby Kelly. He attended and graduated from Palacios High School. Shortly thereafter, he was employed by Alcoa Aluminum where he became a Lab Analyst. Around this same time he met and married Pearl Mary Wagner, his beloved wife of nearly 60 years. They would never leave Palacios, and he would later retire from Alcoa Aluminum after 39 years.

He became a longtime member of the Church of Christ, A devout Christian with an unrelenting faith and belief in God's Providence, and his personal savior Jesus Christ. Donald was a kind honest man with an incredible quick wit who never shirked a task, always placing his family's needs above his own. He loved ranching and working on and driving his antique cars, but most of all he simply enjoyed being with his family. But on March 8, 2015, the Lord softly called him home. If the love a family feels for one, is the true measure of ones wealth, then our father was extremely blessed. He will be deeply missed by his wife, children and grandchildren.

Donald is preceded in death by his parents; daughter Patricia Kelly; half sister Mary Richards and half brother Robert McCrory. He is survived by his wife Pearl Wagner Kelly; daughters Stephanie Winfield (Charles) of San Marcos, TX and Beverly Vacek of Palacios, TX; sons Donald Kelly, Jr. of Palacios TX and Harold Wagner Kelly of Austin TX; sister Betty Burch; brothers Lawrence Kelly, Jr. of Victoria, TX and Roy Kelly of Palacios, TX; grandchildren Justin Kelly (Andrea), Jessica Vacek, Dylan Kelly, Lucas Kelly, Kaitlyn Vacek, Amy Vacek, Colton Kelly and Christian Kelly; great grandchildren Laila Kelly, Roman Kelly, Abram Kelly, Belen Kelly and John Paul Kelly.

The family will receive visitors Wednesday, March 11 at the funeral home from 5-7pm. Services will be held at Palacios Funeral Home on Thursday, March 12 at 10:00am with Bro. Shan Jackson and Rev. Sonny Balch officiating. Interment will follow at Hawley Cemetery in Blessing, TX. Pallbearers are Justin Kelly, Lucas Kelly, Jamie Garcia, Rene Galvan, Kenny Maynard and Stephen Frangullie.