Russell Lee Kesley

Russell Lee Kesley, Sr., 77, passed away on Sunday, February 21, 2016, in a Chattanooga hospital, surrounded by loved ones. Born on July 27, 1938, he grew up in the McDonald area and graduated from Bradley Central High School in 1956.
He married the love of his life, Charlotte, on March 1, 1957 at Mineral Park Baptist Church. They resided in Chattanooga and McDonald until 1975, when they moved to Cleveland.
He served six years in the National Guard achieving the rank of Staff Sergeant , and worked in the crushed stone industry from 1959 until 2011. He was mentored by his father in law, Mark Boring, whom he greatly admired and respected. He began as an equipment operator and worked his way up to area management with Vulcan Materials Company. He retired from Craighead Limestone in Madisonville/Sweetwater in 2011, but continued until his death to represent the owners of his original company, JKB&B Limited, LLC.
A member of First Baptist Church of Cleveland since 1986, he was saved at age 16, and was a deacon by age 19, serving in four area churches. He and his wife were long-time members of the Rodney Fitzgerald Sunday School Class at FBC and had many treasured friends there.
He is survived by his loving wife of nearly 59 years, Charlotte Boring Kesley, three children, Russell L. Kesley, Jr., Charlotte Kesley Blancett (Darrell), and Mark R. Kesley (Holly); six grandchildren who adored him as much as he adored them: Courtney, Dan (with whom he shared a particularly special bond), Kate, Jack, Miyah, and ZaVeah Kesley; three brothers, Kenneth (Kathryn), Roy (Katherine), and Wayne (Shirley) Kesley; as well as a host of special brother and sister in laws, nieces and nephews.
He was predeceased by his parents, Robert P. Kesley and Delia F. Kesley McDaniel; one brother, Donnie Kesley; father- and mother-in-law, Mark and Dora Boring; and a number of special in-laws.
Arrangements are as follows: Visitation will be at First Baptist Church, Cleveland, from 3-7 pm on Tuesday, February 23, with the funeral service immediately following. Interment will follow in the Lee Cemetery at 12:30 PM on Thursday, February 25, with the burial procession leaving from Companion Funeral Home at noon.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Native American ministry of Pine Ridge Baptist Church:
Pine Ridge Baptist Church PO Box 20 Batesland, SD 57716. You are invited to share a personal memory of Russell 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.