Clovis Kelley Obituary

Clovis Burnett “Scotty” “Poppy” Kelley, 87 of Biloxi, MS passed away on Thursday, March 27, 2025.

He was born October 5, 1937 in Los Angeles and grew up in San Diego, California where he worked on tuna boats, surfed the Pacific, and nurtured a lifelong appreciation for nature and the outdoors. “Scotty” served in the USMC from 1954 - 1957 and then served in the USAF from 1958 until he retired in 1975. While stationed in Washington DC he met and married the love of his life, a red-headed West Virginia coal miner’s daughter named Peggy. He earned a Bachelor Degree in Electronics Engineering Technology and was an Instructor at Phillips College following his Air Force Retirement. He was known to many as a renaissance man: a painter, sculptor, inventor, and fixer of all things. He loved both creative and intellectual challenges; he could draw a life-like portrait of a stranger and solve a calculus problem on the same paper napkin while waiting for his lunch.

“Scotty” was preceded in death by his mother, Mavis Middleton Verzin; and brother, Thomas Leon Kelley.

“Scotty” is survived by his spouse, Peggy Joyce (Coffey) Kelley; children, Colleen Kelley Massengill (Curt) and Dr. Shannon Kelley Tyler (Donnie); grandsons, Aidan and Dashiell Tyler; and sister, Paulette King.

A graveside service will be held at 11:00am on Friday, April 4, 2025, at the Biloxi National Cemetery.

Bradford-O’Keefe Funeral Home is honored to serve the family of Clovis Burnett Kelley.