Roy M Kesley

Roy M Kesley of Cleveland, 77, received his final promotion on October 10, 2020, in his beloved daughter’s home, surrounded by loved ones. Born on November 18, 1942, he grew up in the McDonald area and graduated from Bradley Central High School in 1960.
He married his high school sweetheart, Katherine Cook, on December 28, 1963 at Mineral Park Baptist Church. He served in the US Army, before starting his lifelong career with the JC Penney Company. His successful career began in Chattanooga, TN, in 1960, sweeping the stock rooms and filling in for the Men’s Department Salesmen one night a week. He began to outsell that gentleman in his one night per week and his sales ability was quickly noted. In 1966, he was promoted to Atlanta, GA. In November 1971, while living in Atlanta, Roy and Katherine adopted a 5-week-old baby girl and named her Mary Katherine. He was promoted in 1972 to Knoxville, TN. In 1975, age 33, he received his first opportunity as a Manager in store Opelika, AL. In 1976 he became Manager of the Treasure Island store in Marietta, GA. He opened a store in Florence, AL as Manager in 1978. From 1980 to 1983, he was in Atlanta. The next move in 1983 was Colfax, NC. He returned to Chattanooga in 1994 as Store Manager until his retirement in 1997.
A member of First Baptist Church of Cleveland since 1994, he was saved at age 12 in a local revival in McDonald, along with his older brother Kenneth, and their father, Robert. Roy and Katherine were members of the Rodney Fitzgerald Sunday School Class at FBC and had many treasured friends there. He loved antique cars and was an active member of the Antique Automobile Club of America. He’s remembered here in Cleveland for his award-winning ’57 Chevy cars featured in the monthly Cruise-In on the Cleveland Square.

He is survived by his wife of nearly 57 years, Katherine Cook Kesley(residing at the TN State Veteran’s Home in Murfreesboro, TN); one devoted daughter, Mary Katherine Hughes and her husband, Jimmie; four grandsons who love their “Poppa”: Cody and his wife Brie, Matthew, Isaac and Levi; three special sisters in law, nieces and nephews. He would want you to know that his JC Penney HCSC group of friends were considered family to him. Also two very dear and close friends, Tommy Hunt(Mary Ann) and Bill Womac(Roberta) were dear friends who were like family.
He was predeceased by his parents, Robert P. Kesley and Delia F. Kesley McDaniel; four brothers, Donnie, Russell, Kenneth and Wayne; father- and mother-in-law, Sherman and Mary Cook; and a number of other family members including three “perfect” grandchildren in heaven.

Arrangements are as follows: Visitation will be on Thursday October 15th at First Baptist Church, Cleveland, from 1:00pm until 4:30pm with the funeral service, officiated by son-in-law, Jimmie Hughes, following at 5:00pm at the church. Interment will follow in the Lee Cemetery. The family wishes for donations to be made in lieu of flowers to the Tennessee State Veterans Home on behalf of Katherine Kesley. Contact information is Tyler Madsen, 345 Compton Rd., Murfreesboro, TN 37129 in memory of Roy Kesley, Katherine Kesley’s husband.

You are invited to share a personal memory of Roy or your condolences with his family at his online memorial located at www.companionfunerals.com. Companion Funeral and Cremation Service and the Cody family are honored to assist the Kesley family with these arrangements.