William Grady "Bill" Kelly, Jr.

William Grady (Bill) Kelly, Jr. entered his rest peacefully at home on November 5, 2025. Bill was born on November 17, 1930, in Choudrant, Louisiana, the son of William Grady Kelly and Virginia Gregory Kelly. He had a happy childhood despite the Depression, always remarking that his parents kept he and his sister, Bobbie Kelly Bland, feeling safe and secure. Both parents were early employees of the Bank of Choudrant, now known as Origin Bank. As a child of working parents, Bill recalled sleeping on pallets at the bank across the railroad tracks from his lifelong home.

After graduating from Choudrant High School, Bill attended Louisiana Tech for one year. He then transferred to LSU, where he finished both undergrad and law school. Bill was a proud Tiger fan! While at LSU he met his wife of 57 years, Petra Gladys (Pete) Melton. They married in 1955, and spent early married life in Laredo, Texas where Bill served in the US Air Force. Upon returning to north Louisiana, Bill and Pete settled in Monroe where they raised their family.

Upon moving to Monroe, Bill and Pete also joined First Methodist Church and became charter members of the Aldersgate Sunday School class, a lifelong source of many friendships. Attendance was not optional for the Kelly family, and all were present at church every Sunday for the 8:30 am service.

Bill and Pete enjoyed many years of fun together with kids, grandkids and extended family. Family reunions and celebrations, walks in the woods, trips to the beach, camping and hiking, playing tennis and golf, traveling, and many other adventures kept the family together. After retirement Bill enjoyed vacations with family, reading, gym workouts at Moore’s, shooting his age on the golf course many times while getting two holes in one, good coffee and a good meal.

Bill served his profession and his community throughout his life and career. He served as a member of the Ouachita Parish School Board, and was a loyal member and past president of the Kiwanis Club. He practiced law in Monroe with Davenport, Files and Kelly (formerly Davenport and Farr) for over 40 years, and was a proud member of the Louisiana Bar Association and the American College of Trial Lawyers.

Bill is predeceased by his parents, his wife Pete, his sister Bobbie, and his son Grady. He is survived by his daughter Kathleen Kelly O’Bannon (Tom) of Charlotte, NC, their sons Clark (Kate) and their children Jaden and Maddie, and Brian ( Anna) of Charlotte, and their son Reid; his son Ed Kelly ( Lisa) of Kingwood, Texas and their children Claire, Glen (Kelly), and Maggie, all of Houston, Texas; and his daughter Nancy Kelly Falgoust ( John) of New Orleans, and their children Caroline and Jack. Bill also treasured deeply his close relationships with Bobbie’s children and grandchildren, who have been kind and attentive to him.

Funeral services for Mr. Kelly will be held at 1:00 P.M. on Saturday, November 15, 2025, at First Methodist Church of Monroe, under the direction of Mulhearn Funeral Home Sterlington Rd., Monroe. Interment will follow at Longstraw Cemetery in Choudrant, LA. Visitation will be held from 12:00 P.M. until service time at the church.

The family would like to express their thanks especially to Sara Deshotel who recruited and supervised a group of loyal, caring companions who enabled Bill to age at home. We are also grateful for the support provided by Louisiana Hospice in Bill’s final days. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to First Methodist Church of Monroe, or the Food Bank of Northeast Louisiana.