Jack Thomas Kelley, 92, passed from this earth November 19, 2015, in San Luis Obispo, CA. He lived the previous four years in Oceano, CA with his daughter. He was a forty-five year resident of Manteca, CA, where he lived with his wife, Trena and their four children, Miles, Kalleen, Lori and Kathleen.
   He was preceded in death by his mother, Gladys Barnhill Pickering, his wife, Trena, and his son, Miles. He is survived by his three daughters, Kalleen Corley, Oceano, CA; Lori Tubbs, Manteca, CA and Kathleen Skudstad in Grants Pass, OR, and son, Dan Bruton, Dimmit, TX. He is survived by 14 grandchildren: Kevin Bruton, Dimmit, TX; Heidi Kelley, Grants Pass, OR; John Tubbs II, Chino, CA; Ryan Carter, Layfayette, CA; Zac Corley, Milwaukee, WI; Bryant Kelley, Grants Pass, OR; Tim Corley, Brooklyn, NY; Megan Baker, Grants Pass, OR, Cameron Kelley, Grants Pass, OR; Brooke Coletta, Louisville, CO; Jenny Skudstad, Grants Pass, OR; Kelley Skudstad, Grants Pass, OR; Katelyn Rogers, Santa Barbara, CA; and Jack Carter, San Luis Obispo, CA; He is survived by 14 great grandchildren: Klancy and Kreed Bruton; John III, Dominic and Emery Tubbs, Scott, Matthew, Emma and Brody Kelley, Israel and Charlie Kate Baker, and Maverick and Atticus Skudstad.
   Jack was born in Amarillo, TX, January 23, 1923, where he lived his young years before moving to San Diego, CA, at age twelve. He joined the Army Air corp in 1940 and fought 5-years in WWII, earning the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star. He was stationed in Panama, the Philippines, and Japan. After  an honorable discharge in 1945, he met and married Trena Griffin of Amarillo, TX. The couple moved to California in 1949, where they had their four children. Jack worked 28 years for the California Youth Authority; Fricot Ranch School for Boys, and OH Close and Karl Holten Schools at NCYC, Stockton, CA. Jack and his wife, Trena, resided in Manteca, CA, from 1966, and were active in civic, school and church affairs. Jack was elected to the Manteca Unified School Board and served 22 years. His wife, Trena, was elected to and served on the Manteca City Council and was the Mayor of Manteca. They attended Sequoia Heights Baptist Church. They were active in Parent Teachers Association and Campus Life, Neighborhood Watch and Manteca Community Theater. He and Trena were docents for the Manteca Historical Society. They were involved in their children’s lives and were caring grandparents. Jack founded a retirement group for NCYC, Good Old Days, and was the President of that group until his death. He was inducted into the Manteca Hall of Fame in 2013.  Jack Kelley loved his wife, his children, his friends and Manteca. He enjoyed watching westerns and classic movies on TV, listening to 1940s big band and swing music, observing birds, watching dogs, eating hamburgers and drinking tomato beers. He loved the ocean and shore birds. He loved coffee and sourdough toast every morning. He saw the best in most things in life, including people. He will be missed by all who knew and loved him. He was a very good human being.
   A celebration of life service will be held Saturday, December 19, at 1 pm at Sequoia Heights Baptist Church, South Union Rd, Manteca. Committal will be private. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the children of Mary Graham Hall Children’s Shelter, French Camp, CA or The Manteca Historical Society.

Manteca (Calif.) Bulletin
Tuesday, December 15, 2015