Clarence E. Kelly (Coach), 88, of Indianapolis, passed away December 23, 2016 at 3:22 a.m. Born December 26, 1927 in Lafayette, IN to Clarence E. Kelly, Sr. and Margaret Cecille Newman, both deceased 1961. Clarence attended St. Mary’s grade school and graduated from Jefferson High School, where he participated in 4 years of track, 1 year football and basketball. He attended Purdue University from 1946-1950, where he ran track 4 years. Coach graduated from Purdue with a Master’s degree in Physical Education.
In September 1950, Clarence “Coach” Kelly was inducted into the US Army during the Korean War. He was stationed at Sandia Special Weapons Base, Albuquerque, New Mexico where he served as a MP. He was privileged to assist coaching track at Albuquerque H.S. as a good relations endeavor between the Base and the city. He received an Honorable discharge Sept. 1952.
In 1953, he began his teaching career at Milan High School, where he taught English, social studies, and geography. He also built Milan’s first track, which was Coach Kelly’s 1st love of all sports.
He was the Assistant Coach of the 1954 Milan State Championship team. He felt so privileged and honored to be a part of one of the greatest sporting events in Indiana history. He will be remembered for his “scouting” ability for the team in his first two years at Milan 1953-54. The team members and coached were awarded the Sagamore of the Wabash in 1993 by former Governor Evan Bayh and were inducted into the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame in 2004.
Coach Kelly’s teaching career spanned 28 years, retiring in 1978 to travel a greater part of Indiana and Michigan, selling and making fishing tackle. Sixty-five summers of his life were spent fishing the Georgian Bay, Manitoulin Island, Ontario Canada, where he began as a Jr. Counselor at Camp Manitou at age 18.
Surviving Coach are his wife, Joanne “Jo” Marshall Rooze, they married Aug. 1975. He has one daughter from his marriage to Norma Jean Ferguson, deceased. Surviving children include: Mary M. Webber, Carolee Doeden, Cindy (Jim) David, Michael (Cathy) Rooze, and Randy Rooze; 10 grandchildren, Stacy Nahmias, Nicholas (Vanessa) Webber, Jenny (Brandon) Luttrell, Bryan (Angela) Doeden, Brad (Brianah) Doeden, Jenn (Jaime) Gonzalez, Beth Mitton, Erin Rooze, Seth (Morgan) Rooze and Jordan Rooze; and 20 great grandchildren.
A funeral service will be held on Wednesday, December 28 at 1 p.m. at Indiana Funeral Care, Harry W Moore Chapel, 8151 Allisonville Road, with visitation from 11 a.m. until service time. Coach will be laid to rest in a private burial at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Lafayette. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his name to the Milan 54 Museum Fund, RCCF, 4 S. Park Ave, Batesville, IN 47006.
James and Rita Weiand says
Please accept our Deepest Condolences for your Families loss. Our Prayers are with you at this time.
Sincerely Jim and Rita Weiand part of your Comcast Family
Rick Myers says
Mr. Kelly was my English teacher during junior high school at IPS#67. No question he was one of my favorites. I played basketball and he had a real interest in our team – but, as I recall, he never said a word about the Milan team. I never knew until a few years ago that her served as an assistant on that team. I lived very close to school and he would occasionally send me to my home to bring him back the stock page of The Indianapolis Star – I always thought that was very cool. Mr. Kelly was a class act. My sincere condolences.
Matt Tinsley says
Jo and family,
I am sorry to hear about Coach. He was an amazing person and I am thankful for our friendship. My heart goes out to you during this difficult time. God Bless!
Matt Tinsley – Topeka, KS
Susan Allan says
Thinking of you Jo and the families at this time.
Clarence holds a special piece of my heart. He loved Manitoulin Island Canada and my memories of him are all about fishing, talking and visiting. We have missed you here for a long time !