KELLIS, A. J.

Wickenburg SUN, Wickenburg, Arizona February 6, 1948 A.J. Kellis Funeral Will Be Saturday – Pioneer Resident of Wickenburg Summoned Funeral services are to be held at 2 o’clock Saturday afternoon at the Wickenburg Chapel for A.J. Kellis, Arizona pioneer, a resident of Wickenburg since 1905and who, on his 81st birthday anniversary January 6 was the oldest living resident of this community. Mr. Kellis passed away at 8:45 a.m. Wednesday at his home in Wickenburg following a year’s illness. Highly regarded in this community where he lived so long, Mr. Kellis retired from active business life less than five years ago. Coming here in territorial days from McClelland County, Tex., where he was born January 6, 1857, Mr. Kellis knew Wickenburg and the surrounding area when it was wild, frontier country and saw, in his lifetime, both the state and Wickenburg, literally “grow up.” He and the late Mrs. Kellis raised a family of five sons and two daughters, four of whom are still living in this state. They celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary in June 1946 just a few days before Mrs. Kellis’ death. Five years prior to settling in Wickenburg, Mr. Kellis visited Arizona, making the trip from his Texas home in a covered wagon. When he came here to live, he engaged in prospecting in the hills and mountains surrounding Wickenburg and also operated a blacksmith shop. When work was resumed at the Vulture mine in 1930, following its purchase by J. C. Lincoln, Mr. Kellis was employed at that famous gold-producing property. Surviving Mr. Kellis are a daughter, Mrs. Paul D. Hannon and a son, John Kellis, both of Wickenburg, another daughter, Mrs. Nora Young of Redlands, Calif., and four other sons, Gilbert of Bagdad and William of Mesa; Floyd of Eugene, Ore., and James of Goldhill in the same state. At the time of going to press, it was definitely known that Mrs. Young, Floyd, Gilbert and William would all come here for the funeral while word to that effect was expected momentarily from the son, James. Mr. Kellis is also survived by 19 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren. Following the funeral services, burial will take place in the Wickenburg cemetery. The entire community joins in extending sympathy to the bereaved family.