Barton Michael Kelly was born in Tulsa OK to Solomon and Jewell Evans Kelly on the 1st of March, 1960, being baptized at Newtown Creek Indian Methodist Church. He went to be with the Lord September 9, 2020 at the age of 60 in Oklahoma City.
He attended both Jenks and Glenpool High Schools where he excelled in art, football, basketball, and wrestling. He also attended Tulsa Welding School. In his lifetime, Bart worked for MCN summer youth program as a teenager, has worked in welding, security, greenhouse laborer and spent many years working for Daylight Donut Corporation. After many odd jobs in between, he retired from the workforce for medical issues.
But the 9-to5 only got in the way of Bart’s free spirit as he was a true creative, an athlete and a musician. His life was an inspiration without really trying—he lived life on his own terms not afraid to try something new. He used his gift of public speaking often as a minister of the gospel of Jesus Christ at the Creek County Jail, around the state and beyond. He also enjoyed teaching martial arts or simply discussing the latest book he read. His certifications include Pastoral Studies from Rhema Bible Training Center and Black Sash Master level instructor of Chinese Wing Chun Kung Fu. He also practiced Muay Thai Kickboxing and Tae Kwon Do earlier in his training. He truly loved life, was a joy to be around, had an infectious good mood and was always up for the next adventure. He visited the various reservations which included the Ojibway of Michigan, Blackfoot of Montana and the Jemez Pueblo of New Mexico, both for ministry and recreation. He was very proud of his Muscogee-Creek heritage, studying our history and discussing it frequently.
He loved to sing, write songs, play guitar, do recording, practice beadwork, enjoyed OU football but most of all, Bart loved to share his life with those who were his friends and family. He encouraged us all to live our dreams, do the difficult work to achieve those goals and not be afraid to live life outside the box as often as we could. He was so loved and will be so missed.
Bart is preceded in death by his parents Solomon and Jewell Evans Kelly. He is survived by his wife Kellie of Yukon, OK; four children: Daniel Kelly of Morris, OK, Michael Kelly of Collinsville,OK, Mitchell Devin of Lawrence, KS and Cheyenne Kelly of Yukon, OK; also, one sister, Kathy Kelly Irwin of Sapulpa OK, seven grandchildren, assorted cousins & family.
Services will be Thursday, Sept. 17, 2020 @ 2 p.m. at Morning Star Evangelistic Center
