Robert Kelly

Robert Allen (Bob) Kelly, 69, of Liberty, Mo., passed away July 11 after a long bout with cancer.

Bob is survived by his wife of 43 years Marianne; daughter Susanne; son Stephen and his wife, Katy; and three grandchildren, Laine, Anderson and Turner. He is the brother of Tim and Lester Kelly and sisters Doris Stevenson and Kathy McBride. He was preceded in death by an older sister, Sharon, and his parents, Lester and May Louise Kelly.

He will be greatly missed by a large Northland community. Bob lived his entire life in the area, graduating from Liberty High School in 1971, and attended Southwest Missouri State and William Jewell College, where he graduated with a degree in accounting. This led to a nearly 40-year career in the banking industry, serving as compliance manager and auditor for a number of area banks including Commerce, UMB, Bank of Blue Valley, BankLiberty and First Federal Bank of Kansas City. He retired in April 2021. Bob was a mentor to many and will be remembered as always being cheerful, kind, caring and “truly genuine,” recalls Lacey Weimhold, a longtime colleague and friend.

His family also saw the “compliance man” as the artist who could create fanciful characters and doodles that delighted his children and grandchildren.

But it was his love for his church that so many will remember. He was a beloved member of Kearney Bible Church for more than 35 years, serving as an elder, leading Bible study, and taking an active role in all facets of its operation. Kearney Bible’s former pastor, Chuck Johnson, called Bob his spiritual brother who taught him “the tremendous positive truth that leaders can be kind and gentle.”

A memorial service celebrating Bob's life will be held at 10:30 am Saturday, July 16, at Park Lawn Northland Chapel, I-35 at State Route 291, Liberty, MO. Visitation will follow the service until 12:00 pm. Private burial at Glenridge Cemetery in Liberty.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are suggested to the Bob Kelly Memorial Scholarship c/o https://www.capstoneacton.org/bob

You may share a message with the family or sign an online guest book via www.parklawnfunerals.com. Arrangements: Park Lawn Northland Chapel (816) 781-8228.

A memorial service celebrating Bob’s life will be held at 10:30 am Saturday, July 16, at Park Lawn Northland Chapel, I-35 at State Route 291, Liberty, MO. Visitation will follow the service until 12:00 pm. Private burial at Glenridge Cemetery in Liberty.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are suggested to the Bob Kelly Memorial Scholarship c/o https://www.capstoneacton.org/bob