Mark Alan Kelley M.D.'s Obituary
Dr. Mark Alan Kelley M.D. was the walking, talking, breathing embodiment of kindness, love, healing, fairness, and giving. He was humble as you will see by reading all his accomplishments. He never led with them, he led with his heart – always.
Mark was born to Alan Douglas Kelley and Doris Irene (Rich) Kelley on March 27, 1940. Mark married the love of his life, Cheryl (Wise) Kelley on December 21, 1963. They were married for 52 years until she passed away in 2015. They had three children; Joy Kelley (56) - she and Greg Stumpf (58) have two children - Geneva Brasher (30) and Audrey Stumpf (21); Paul Kelley (55); and Phillip Kelley who preceded them in death (1972-1995), and his son, Corbin Kelley (28).
Mark was the middle brother of three brothers. His oldest brother, Daniel “Dan” Bailey Kelley and his wife Sharon who preceded him in death. They had two daughters, Dana (Kelley) Neville and Lori (Kelley) Day; and four grandchildren, Patrick Neville, Laurie Neville, Hayley Day, and Carter Day. His youngest brother Glen Phillip Kelley and Sheri Kelley have three children - Amber (Kelley) Moore, Mason Kelley, and Spencer Kelley; and two grandchildren - Mila Moore and Marin Moore. Mark also treasured spending summers at his cousins Charles, David, John, William, and Stephen Grisham’s farm near El Dorado, Kansas.
Mark was a Boy Scout who achieved the rank of Eagle Scout. His parents were actively involved in the troop – his father was the troop leader, and his mother was the den mother. His father, Alan Kelley, was an avid wrestler who is in the Oklahoma State University (OSU) Wrestling Hall of Fame. Both Mark and his brother Dan followed in his footsteps and wrestled at Graceland University, and Mark also wrestled at OSU. His father was in the Priesthood and an active member of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (RLDS), which later became the Community of Christ. Mark followed in his father’s footsteps yet again and became a member of the Priesthood, and when he passed, he was a member of the Office of High Priest.
Mark was a lifelong learner. After he graduated from Tulsa Central High School in 1958, he spent two years at Graceland University in Lamoni, Iowa; where he met his wife, Cheryl. He then went to OSU and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in 1963. He went to the University of Oklahoma (OU) College of Medicine and graduated in 1967 with a M.D. He did his internship at Hillcrest Medical Center in Tulsa from 1967-1968. He did his residency in psychiatry at the University of Kansas School of Medicine from 1968 to 1970. He did a year fellowship in Psychosomatic Medicine at OU College of Medicine from 1970-1971.
Mark served his country during the Vietnam War by enrolling in the Navy from 1971-1973. He was stationed at the Naval Air Station in Corpus Christi, Texas. He was honorably discharged as a Lieutenant Commander in 1973. He continued to serve his whole life because he had a special spot in his heart for veterans and what they went through with PTSD devoting his life to caring for them.
Mark then moved to his hometown of Tulsa, Oklahoma, and opened a private practice at St. Johns Medical Center. He was also the director of the Inpatient Behavioral Health Unit until it closed in 2007. He continued his private practice until he retired in 2019.
Mark was a member of the American Psychiatric Association (APA) for his entire career, was elected president of the Oklahoma Psychiatric Physicians Association, a district branch of the APA, in 1983-1984, and then was elected as a Distinguished Life Fellow of the APA in 2003. He was also a member of the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology.
His greatest joy was being “Granpa” to everyone. This allowed him to formulate his “6 Things” which was the theme of his life: Relationships, Energy, Health, Time, Money, and Awareness of Good. We will always love and miss you, Granpa!
A celebration of his life will be held at Tulsa Central Community of Christ at 4811 S. Fulton, Tulsa, Oklahoma, on Saturday, May 20, 2023, at 1:00 pm and will be followed by a potluck dessert reception.
What’s your fondest memory of Mark?
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Share a story where Mark's kindness touched your heart.
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