Obituary of Vincent Kelly

Vincent Michael Kelly Jr. was born March 15, 1933 in Tulsa, OK to Vincent Michael and Ivy Maria Phelps Kelly. He passed from this life on Wednesday, April 27th, 2011 at his home in Tulsa. He was a graduate of Cascia Hall in 1950, attended Regis University in Denver, CO for 2 years, he attended UMKC where he earned a Bachelor of Science in chemistry and biology and his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree. He served as a Captain in the Air Force for 2 years practicing dentistry. In 1961, he returned to UMKC where he did his residency in Orthodontics and earned a Master of Science in Oral Histology. Vincent practiced Orthodontics in Tulsa and Claremore for 45 years, retired briefly, then practiced in Miami, Florida for 5 years. Associate Professor of Clinical Orthodontics at OU and St. Louis University, he taught and lectured extensively to Orthodontists world wide. He developed lingual (invisible) braces and held several patents in the field of Orthodontics. He was a Diplomat of the American Board of Orthodontists since 1969 and the European Board of Orthodontists. Vincent loved cooking and teaching. In 1969, he earned his pilot's license. He was an avid hunter, fisherman, and sportsman. He was a lifetime member of Southern Hills Country Club. He was a respected restaurateur it Tulsa. In 1990, he helped reorganize the Tulsa chapter of the Chaine Des Rotisseur and served as Baille for over 10 years. His charitable contributions included the American Lung Association, Tulsa Center for the Physically Limited and Tulsa Nature Works. He was preceded in death by his parents and a sister, Mary Catherine Freeman. Vincent is survived by his beloved wife Aleatha, of the home; five daughters, Kevin Marie Okrzesik, Leslie Kelly Nicholls, both of Kingwood, TX Karen Kelly Hewett, of Redmond, OR, Carolyn Kelly, of Colorado Springs, CO, and Kathleen Kelly McCarthy, of Bedford, NY; sister, Barbara B. Taylor, of Fort Smith, AR, two brothers, Thomas R. Kelly, of Tulsa, and Frank C. Kelly, of Muscatine, Iowa; three step children, Dr. Lori Hare- Frazee of Tulsa, Jeffrey Guthrie of Frisco, TX, and David Guthrie of Oklahoma City, OK; and fourteen grandchildren. A memorial mass will be held at 11:00 A.M. Monday at Church of St. Mary with interment in Calvary Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, a memorial scholarship fund has been established at Arvest Bank in the title of: Vincent M. Kelly Jr. Scholarship Fund.