Funeral services for Ralph Monroe Kelley, 69, of Downsville will be held at 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, July 21, 2020 at Mt. Ararat Baptist Church with Judge Jay McCallum officiating.  A Masonic Burial Service will be held.  Interment will follow in Mt. Nebo Cemetery under the direction of Farrar Funeral Home in Farmerville.

Mr. Kelley passed away on Saturday, July 18, 2020.  Mr. Kelley was a member of Mt. Ararat Baptist Church.  Ralph was a 1969 graduate of Downsville High School and attended Louisiana Tech University.  He was a United States Army Veteran proudly serving in Vietnam.  Hunting and fishing were some of his favorite pastimes, along with playing cards and dominoes.

Ralph began working in his family florist business, Kelley's Florist, in 1964 and continued to operate it with his wife until their retirement in 2011.  He worked as Office Manager for RGS Construction & Agriculture and for many years he worked for the Union Parish School District as a Bus Driver.  Ralph also served as Manager and Funeral Director at Farrar Funeral Home and was Coroner of Union Parish for 8 years.

Among the many honors that Ralph attained, he also served as President of the Union Parish Chamber of Commerce & Tourist Commission, President of the Louisiana Florist Association and was a member of the Farmerville Lions Club.

Ralph was a faithful member of the Downsville Masonic Lodge #146 and the Farmerville Union Fraternity Masonic Lodge.  Ralph was a 32 ^nd Degree Mason, Member of the Scottish Rites and the Monroe Barak Temple.

Mr. Kelley was preceded in death by his parents, Carnal & Evelene Kelley.

Left to cherish his memory are his loving wife of 49 years, Connie Bayles Kelley; son, Brian Monroe Kelley; sister, Lillian Day & husband, John; niece and nephew, Karen Tyra and Kevin Day & wife, Christi; great-nieces and nephews, Jessica Hulbert & husband, John, Brittney Nugent & husband, Lance, Michael Day & wife, Kayla and Brandon Tyra & wife, Becca; great great-nieces and nephews, Harper, Jayce, Jaxon and Maddox Nugent; father and mother-in-law, Chris & Sue Bayles; brother-in-law, Tony Bayles; and a host of other family and friends.

Pallbearers will be Ernie Bruce, Roger Antley, Brandon Tyra, Reg Skains, Kevin Barkley and Lance Nugent.

Honorary pallbearers will be Reggie Skains, Joe Cusimano, Danny Tettleton, Johnny McFarland, Douglas Lyons and Alfred Bryan.

Visitation will be from 9:00 a.m. ~ 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, July 21, 2020 at Mt. Ararat Baptist Church.