Earl E. Kelly Sr., 80, of 136 Boyd Drive died at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday at his home.

Born in Butler, Oct. 22, 1924, he was the son of Clarence and Lamona Shermer Kelly.

He had been a steelworker and retired from Armco-Butler Works in 1983 as a turn leader at the hilltop-processing department after 40 years.

During World War II, he served with the Army in the Pacific and received two Bronze Stars.

He was a member of St. Paul Roman Catholic Church, the Legion of Mary and rosary group of St. Peter Roman Catholic Church.

Mr. Kelly belonged to the Knights of Columbus and the 4th Degree Knights. With the Knights of Columbus he was a volunteer representative at the Butler Veterans Affairs Medical Center for 23 years, past color commander of the 4th Degree, past grand knight of Council 866 of Butler and a past faithful navigator. He also organized the sick call group, which visited patients at Butler Memorial Hospital from 1980 to 2000.

He also belonged to the VFW Post 249, the American Legion 117, the Armco Veterans' Club, the Butler Moose Lodge and the Order of Alhambra, where he organized the Alhambra Clowns and served as past regional director of the Order of Alhambra of Western Pennsylvania.

He was a volunteer in the chaplain service at Sunnyview Nursing Home; a charter member Butler Bocce League and served as manger for the Meridian Little League and Pony League for 10 years. In 1996, he was named Citizen of the Year by the City of Butler. He also played Santa Claus at VA Medical Center for years.

He enjoyed fishing and traveling to Wisconsin to fish, and also enjoyed roller-skating at Hudson Roller Rink in Butler.

Surviving are his wife, Ermania Laborie Kelly, whom he married Sept. 6, 1947, at St. Michael Roman Catholic Church; three sons, Paul Kelly of Chicora and Earl E. Jr. and Jeff Kelly, both of Butler; six grandchildren, Jubal Kelly of Indiana, Pa., April Kelly of Slippery Rock, Jesse Lee Kelly of Renfrew, Nichole Kelly of Grove City, Gavin Kelly of Butler and Herman Spahn of St. Paul, Minn.; and three great-grandchildren, Destin, Julia and Shawn.

A brother, George Kelly; a sister, Norabell Kelly; and a grandson, Joey Kelly preceded him in death.

KELLY - Friends of Earl E. Kelly Sr., who died Wednesday, May 18, 2005, will be received from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Friday atMARTIN FUNERAL HOME, 429 Center Ave. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Saturday at St. Paul Roman Catholic Church, 128 N. McKean St., Burial will be at Calvary Cemetery.Members of the Order of Alhambra will hold at prayer service at 8:30 p.m. Friday at the funeral home.Members of the Knights of Columbus will recite the rosary at 9 p.m. Friday at the funeral home.Members of the St. Paul Guild and Christian Mothers will recite the rosary at 9:35 a.m. Saturday at the church.In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Knights of Columbus, 234 E North St., Butler, PA 16001.