Max H. Kelley

The life's journey of Max H. Kelley age 98 of 1035 Village Drive, Hastings came to an end on, May 26th, 2018 at Thornapple Manor, in Hastings, MI.

The journey for Max began on February 4, 1920 in Brooklyn, MI when Max as born to Paul J. and Amy C. (Harper) Kelley.

Max was a graduate of Vandercook Lake High School, Jackson Junior College, and Michigan State College, now Michigan State University. At Michigan State, Max received his B.A. degree in Business Administration. These were war years but, because of a birth defect involving his vision, Max was unable to serve in the Armed forces. After graduation, he accepted a position with Allis-Chalmers in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the state's largest supplier of war materials. He spent four years there in the Health & Safety Dept. as a job trainer & safety Inspector.

In 1948, Max secured a sales trainee job with the National Cash Register Co. and moved back to Jackson, MI. He later found his true vocation when he decided to join with his father in opening a "5&10" variety store at Vandercook Lake. It was at this time from 1950 - 1958 that Max met and married Ethelyn Parsons of Jackson. The store prospered, so Max & Ethelyn decided to purchase a 5&10-cent store in Nashville, where they remained for 31 years. During this period, the store was modernized and doubled in size.

After retiring in 1987, Max & Ethelyn spent 17 winters at Holiday Mobile Park in Tavares, Florida. In the spring of 2004 the Florida home was sold and they decided to live full time at their home on Middle Lake in Hastings, MI.

Over the years, Max was a member of the Nashvlle Village Council, the Nashville Chamber of Commerce and served as Worshipful Master of the Nashville Lodge #255, as well as Worthy Patron of Laurel Chapter O.E.S. Max & Ethelyn were members of the Nashville United Methodist Church from 1957 until a few years ago when Max transferred his membership to Hastings United Methodist.

Max was an avid reader. His interest in lifelong learning lead him to join the Learning in Retirement groups at the Hastings branch of Kellogg Community College. He loved working in his yard at the lake, tending his flower garden and rose bed, and occasionally finding time to go fishing. Max was preceded in death by an infant son, Stephen Paul Kelley, and his beloved wife Ethelyn.

He is survived by his daughter Kathleen Kelley (Gary Fox) and grandson Harper Fox.

Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, June 6 at 11 AM at the Daniels Funeral Home in Nashville. The family will receive visitors one hour prior to the funeral service and there will be a light lunch afterword.

Max will be interred privately with his beloved wife Ethelyn at Lakeview Cemetery in Nashville. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the Daniels Funeral Home in Nashville. For further details please visit our website at www.danielsfuneralhome.net.