Photo No. 2609

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Click Here For the obituary at the McKneely Funeral Home site

A resident of Amite, LA, passed away on Friday, September 29, 2023 at North Oaks Medical Center in Hammond, LA. He was born April 24, 1954 in Clinton, LA and was 69 years of age.

He was a graduate of Amite High School class of 1973. Kelley Wayne retired from Entergy after 38 years of dedicated service to his community and even when he was "off duty" he would listen to scanner and have a tendency to put himself "on duty". He was a volunteer firefighter with the Amite Fire Department for many years where he really enjoyed the Monday night meetings where someone always brought a deck of cards. The card games always caused him to come home later than planned. He coached Little League Baseball starting in 1983 with his oldest son all the way until 2012 with his grandsons. But most of all, he loved spending time with his grandkids. He was known in the community as man of many names including "KW", "Coach Kelley", "Coach KW", "The Light Man", and "Poppy".

He is survived by wife of 46 years, Terri Chandler Russell; 3 children, Brandon Kent Russell and wife, Kim, Kristin Russell Gafford and husband, Bradley, and Layne Russell; grandchildren, Dakota Russell, Kailey Gafford Bales and husband, Noah, Kyler Gafford, Kayne Russell, Koltyn Gafford, and Karson Russell; sister, Shirley Jo Russell Core and husband, Chic; 2 brothers, Kenneth Carroll "Skipper" Russell, Jr. and wife, Marie, and Robert Reginald "Reggie" Russell and wife, Charlene.

Preceded in death by father, Kenneth Carroll Russell, Sr.; mother, Elaine Russell Henry.

Visitation at House on the Rock Church, Amite, from 5:00PM until 9:00PM on Monday and from 10:00AM until religious services at 1:00PM on Tuesday, October 3, 2023. Services conducted by Pastor and close friend Chip Fitz. Interment Mulberry Street Cemetery, Amite, LA.

Pallbearers will be Brandon Russell, Dakota Russell, Brad Gafford, Kyler Gafford, Layne Russell, Kayne Russell, Noah Bales, Kole Graham, and Steve Ellzey. McKneely Funeral Home, Amite, in charge of arrangements.

For an online guestbook, visit http://www.mckneelys.com.