Arden Dale Kelley
Obituary
Arden Dale Kelley passed away peacefully in his home surrounded by family and friends on Aug. 6, 2022. Arden was born to Alta (Mansfield) and Gerald Kelley on Oct. 4, 1939 in King City, Calif.
Ardie, as he was known, attended San Lucas Elementary School, San Ardo Elementary School and King City High School. As a boy, Ardie worked for William Brinan Sr. The time spent on the ranch fostered friendships with his "sisters", the Brinan girls: Martha Schwabacher, Ruth Morgan, Shirley Ethridge, Edith Capps, and Ginger Gianolini. Friendships that he cherished until his dying day.
The owner of Kelley Trucking as well as Kelley Custom Harvesting in San Ardo; hauling and harvesting hay, sugar beets, and carrots kept him busy from the 1960's well into the 1980's. Ardie was also a jack of all trades. He was an accomplished welder, carpenter and mechanic. There was nothing he couldn't fix, make better or innovate. He was a member of the Salinas Elks Lodge, San Ardo Grange, Volunteer of the San Ardo Fire Department, and San Ardo 4-H leader.
In 1986, Ardie moved to Carson City, Nev., to start a new chapter in life. He spent his time there working on equipment for snow removal and mining. He also manufactured and sold safes for the casino hotel rooms (there goes that innovative spirit again). Arden was good at making friends far and wide and in Carson City, he had many, which included Monday breakfast with his Veteran buddies.
After retiring, Ardie spent time in his garden, restoring a Model T pickup truck and tinkering in the shop. He traveled back to South Monterey County yearly to attend the San Ardo Grange Poker Run and the Nacitone Dutch Oven Cook Off. Ardie loved visiting with friends; he could be found with the "Harrington Boys" James and Dwain, or out in Lockwood with Neil Wollesen. He always made time to go to lunch with his Brinan sisters.
Arden is survived by his daughters, Kenda Chavez (Aaron),and Kaeda Barrio (Raphael); grandsons, Truxton, Paxton, Bronxton Chavez, and Kaedan Barrios; and numerous Mansfield and Plaskett cousins.
Proceeding Arden in death were his father, Gerald Kelley; mother, Alta Bronzich; sisters, Patsy Lee Kelley, Martha Jean LaVelle and Sharon Albee.
If you wish to make a donation in memory of Arden, the family would appreciate donations to the San Ardo Fire Dept. P.O. Box 311 San Ardo, CA 93450, or the San Ardo Grange P.O. Box 105 San Ardo, CA 93450.
A Celebration of Life will be held at the St. Matthew's Episcopal Church on 60318 Jolon Street in San Ardo on Saturday, Oct. 8, 2022 at 11 a.m.
Published in King City Rustler · September 13, 2022