Ronnie O’Neal  Kelley, 81, a resident of Iowa, La., passed from this life on Sept. 6, 2024, at a local hospice facility after a short and courageous battle with Leukemia.

Mr. Kelley, affectionately known as “Punkin,” will forever be remembered as a loving husband, father, grandfather, and brother. He grew up as a cowboy, from bull riding, rodeoing, herding cattle to living a hard-working farm life. He was an avid hunter, loved the outdoors, watching animals in nature, and his canine companion, Spec. Ronnie loved family gatherings, was a jokester, and found humor in all situations to lighten the mood. Ronnie was a jack of all trades and enjoyed storytelling from life experiences. He was a commercial diver for many years and later retired from the United States Army Corps of Engineers. Ronnie was a Vietnam Veteran who served with honor in the United States Navy.

Ronnie is preceded in death by his parents, Joseph O’Neal and Rosalie Lognion Kelley, and brothers-in-law, Donald Dill and Marcos Joseph Kelley.

He leaves to cherish his memory his loving wife of 52 years, Linda Sottile Kelley; his three children, Peggy Kelley and husband, William Baker, Matt Kelley, and Quinn Knight; his six grandchildren, Lacie Kelley, Blake Wren, Amber Baker, Haylie Baker, Olivia Kelley, and Hunter Baker, three great-grandchildren, Bubba, Levi, and Isla Hall; siblings, Ramona Dill McCorquodale and husband, Donny, and Bobbie Kelley; niece, Kelley Stallion and husband, Kevin, and nephews Michael Dill, Mark Dill and wife, Heather.

The family would like to express their sincere appreciation to the doctors and staff at St. Patrick’s Hospital and Ochsner’s Hospital on the Old Jefferson Highway, as well as their extended family at Trinity Baptist Church for their love and prayers.

Family and friends will gather on Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024, from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. in the chapel of Lakeside Funeral Home to celebrate the life of Mr. Kelley. Ronnie will be laid to rest at the Southwest Louisiana Veterans Cemetery at a later date.