Kellye Russell Hart

Kellye Russell Hart, age 96, born May 1, 1928, at Rush Springs, OK, was the eleventh of twelve children born to John William and Christina (Sperling) Hart. He died on July 1, 2024, at Bob Wilson Memorial Hospital in Ulysses, KS.

He attended public schools in Comanche County, OK, graduating in 1946 from Geronimo High School. After high school, he served in the US Army and upon discharge, attended Cameron College in Lawton, OK and Central State College in Edmond OK, where he received his Bachelor of Science degree in business education. He worked in finance at Fort Sill, OK, for two and half years before accepting a teaching position in McCracken, KS, in 1953. While teaching at McCracken, Kellye earned his master’s degree in school administration at Fort Hays State University. He served as high school principal at Lorraine and Kanopolis, and as superintendent at Ellsworth, Lakin, and Ell-Saline, KS school districts.

Kellye retired in 1992 and he and his wife, Diana, moved to Ulysses to be near their grandchildren. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Ulysses, Ulysses Masonic Lodge No. 435, the Kansas Ornithological Society, the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma and was a life member of the National Education Association and American Legion Post No. 79. After his retirement, he refinished furniture, coordinated the local American Red Cross blood drives for 15 years, helped with Ulysses wildflower tours and was a birder and compiler for the Ulysses Christmas Bird Counts.

Kellye and Diana Walker were married June 14, 1958, in La Crosse, KS. He is survived by his wife, Diana; son, Gary and wife Barb of Ulysses; daughter, Sherri of Hutchinson; granddaughter, Leslie Lorlovick and husband Derek of Oklahoma City; grandson, Charles of Ulysses and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, five sisters and six brothers.

Funeral Service will be Friday, July 5, 2024, at 10:00 AM at Garnand Funeral Home Chapel, Ulysses, Kansas. Graveside service will be at 3:00 PM at the La Crosse Cemetery in La Crosse, Kansas with Pastor Willy Banza officiating. Memorials may be given to the Ulysses Masonic Lodge #435 or the Ulysses First United Methodist Church in care of Garnand Funeral Home, 405 W. Grant Ave., Ulysses, Kansas 67880.