Kenneth ‘shorty’ Kelley, age 82, passed away peacefully on Thursday, October 12th, 2023 at his home in Montague, Texas.

A Celebration of Life will take place on Friday, Oct. 27th, 12:00 p.m. at the Montague County Cowboy Church in Montague, TX, with Pastor Joe Caballero officiating.

Family will receive friends from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m., prior to the service on Friday, October 27th, at the church.

Interment will take place on Sunday, October 29th, at 2:00pm at Foster Cemetery, Foster, Oklahoma.

Kenneth was born November 26, 1940 in Decatur, TX. On August 20, 1994 Kenneth married Sharon Bass in San Antonio, TX. Anyone that ever-met Kenneth knew that he loved rodeo and the cowboy way of life. He started his career roping chickens on foot. After roping his first calf at the age of six, his destiny was set. He joined the PRCA in 1961 often entering the steer wrestling in order to compete for all around, while riding his roping horse. He placed at many of the major rodeos including San Antonio, Houston, Denver, Calgary, Cheyenne, and Ft. Worth. 1966 was a pinnacle year when he qualified for the NFR (National Finals Rodeo) finishing 8th for the year and in the top 25 for several years after. He won the Texas Circuit year-end 4 times and the Henrietta rodeo three years in a row. In 2011 he was inducted into the Texas Rodeo Hall of Fame.

As time marched on he eventually shifted his focus to the Senior Circuit and competed in numerous associations where he won multiple championships, the last being 2021 where he won the Texas Sr. Pro Rodeo finals saddle at the age of 80 and won at the last rodeo this year, he competed in at 82.

In addition to competing, he was an accomplished rope horse trainer. Always training his own, he was known to produce some of the top roping horses often selling to some of the top ropers in the country. He enjoyed working with people of all levels, regardless of whether they were just getting started or top professionals. For the past 4 years he has been perfecting the skills of an up and coming breakaway roper.

Kenneth has been a member of the Montague County Cowboy Church for 14 years where he enjoys attending services and helping out with the arena events.

He is preceded in death by his father Ollie, mother Louise, brothers Joe and Ben, and niece Rhonda.

Kenneth is survived by his wife Sharon; brothers Larry and Robert; sister Paula; sons John and Michael; stepson Coy Harris; stepdaughter Jami Lybbert; grandchildren, Dusty, Ashley, Sydney, Jack, Jake, Garrett, Emma, and Cooper; great-daughters, Shaylie, McKenna and Saige; and several nieces and nephews.

Should friends desire, memorials can be made in honor of Kenneth to the Montague County Cowboy Church Christ Can or the animal shelter of your choice.

Arrangements entrusted to the White Family Funeral Home of Bowie, TX.