Adam Wayne Kelley passed on in the wee hours of May 8, 2020, after a valiant fight with cancer. Adam was born in Aurora, Mo., on Nov. 15, 1969, to father Pete Kelley and mother Julia Snyder (Swain).
Adam strived to live his life with integrity and consideration of others, and believed if everyone lived by the Golden Rule, this world would be a better place.
Adam was an inventor and entrepreneur who thrived on coming up with solutions and ideas that would improve life for others. He could take a piece of plastic scrap and fix an appliance, build a solar shower, or make a teensy spatula to feed an animal that was ill.
He built his sailboat, Lunar Eclipse, out of trash he found on the Gulf Coast because he couldn’t stand seeing trash lining the beaches. The Lunar Eclipse was built from assorted plastic bottles and jugs strapped together, with discarded bicycle parts for a rudder and trailer, and a tarp for a sail and sometimes a tent. He built two more boats from PVC that he called Pond Skimmers that he floated on Beaver Lake.
He was invited to be a consultant in a think tank for a Whirlpool appliance in production. He was paid by Fact or Faked, the TV show to collect multiple types of insects for a show after the Joplin tornado.
Adam was passionate about his wind-powered bubble machines that he redesigned almost yearly, handmade them and sold them internationally.
He loved to write and sing his own songs, sculpt, and grow and hunt edible mushrooms. He was a Martial Artist and a great dancer.
He loved Eureka Springs, his adopted hometown, where he lived for 18+ years before moving to Springfield to help family.
Adam was preceded in death by his uncle Kevin Kelley; his maternal grandparents Art and Laverna Swain; his paternal grandparents Pete and Betty Kelley; and his sweet dog, Pita, who passed 5 days after he did. Adam leaves behind his wife Eileen Kelley; his mother Julia Snyder; his father and stepmother Pete and Brenda Kelley; his brothers and their wives Ryan and Sarah Kelley and Alex and Jalaena Kelley; his nephews and niece (Eli, Zach, and Adeline, plus 3 more on the way); uncles, aunts and cousins from the Swain, Kelley, and Strope families; and friends who were also family to him.
In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Good Shepherd Humane Society of Eureka Springs and be kind to one another. Arrangements and cremation are under the direction of Cremations of the Ozarks. To leave an online condolence, please visit cremationsoftheozarks.com.
“Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” The Golden Rule of Leviticus 19:18 was quoted by Jesus of Nazareth (Matthew 7:12; see also Luke 6:31).