Robert "Ray" McKelvey

MORTON – Robert R. “Ray” McKelvey, 87, of Morton, passed away on Tuesday, April 27, 2021, at Brandon Wood Retirement Center in Morton.

Ray was born on December 27, 1933, in Paragold, Ark., to Leonard and Belva (Welchel) McKelvey. He married Helen Tatum in Paragold, Ark., on January 8, 1955.

Surviving are his wife, Helen McKelvey of Morton; daughter, Jacquetta (Brad) Menold of Morton; son, Miles McKelvey (Kathy Kupferschmid) of East Peoria; six grandchildren, Kelsey (David) Aberle of Chesterfield, Mo., Whitney (Scott) Hart of Shabbona, Ill., Noah (Whitney) Menold of Morton, Marissa Harris of Chillicothe, Emily Rae McKelvey of Pekin, and Mitchell Ray McKelvey of Grand Rapids, Mich.; and eleven great-grandchildren, Landon and Lillian Aberle, Logan, Nolan and Brooke Hart, Cael, Ramsey, Wrenley and Lark Menold, Braxton Harris, and Brecken Ashley.

He was preceded in death by two sons, Coy and Todd McKelvey; and his brothers, Arthur, Dale, James and twin brother, Ralph.

Ray was a foreman at Caterpillar, Inc. and a builder and carpenter with his brother, Jim.

Ray enjoyed boating and was a huge fan of the St. Louis Cardinals and Arkansas Razorbacks.

A private family funeral service will be held at Knapp-Johnson Funeral Home and Cremation Center in Morton, with Pastor Tim Bertsche officiating. Burial will be at Hillcrest Memory Gardens in Morton.

Memorials may be made to Apostolic Christian LifePoints.

Knapp-Johnson Funeral Home and Cremation Center in Morton is handling arrangements.

To leave an online condolence for the family, visit www.knappjohnson.com.