LEWISTON – John Wendall Kelley, AKA “Stumpy the Clown”, 82, of Lewiston, passed away Wednesday, Sept. 6, 2023, at his home in Lewiston. He was born July 25, 1941, in Riley, the son of John and Cora (Taylor) Kelley. He was a 1960 graduate of Livermore Falls High School. On June 29, 1968, at the First Baptist Church of Livermore Falls, he married Nancy Norton. They enjoyed 55 years of marriage before her passing on July 12, 2023. Through the years he worked at the shoe shops, paper mills, and most recently for Fire Safe Equipment. He was a member of the Ashlar Lodge #105 A.F. & A.M., the Kora Temple Shrine, he proudly attended Clown College in Massachusetts and will forever be remembered as Stumpy the Clown performing at the Kora Shrine Circus and parades. He will also be remembered for his devotion serving his community and family. He enjoyed fishing, camping and being Stumpy the Clown.

He is survived by his two daughters, Maureen Jordan and Debra Austin and her husband Shaun, four grandchildren, Kyle Bates and his wife Stephanie, Brian Bates and his partner Jazzmyne Hunt, Noah Marquis and his girlfriend Abby Tibbetts, Gabrielle Marquis and her boyfriend Tylor Montminy as well as three great-grandchildren, Leanna, Allison and Dexter Bates, his sisters, Katherine Richards of Wilton, and Janice Spiller of Strong. He was predeceased by his parents, his wife Nancy, siblings, Judy, Gary, Don and Jim Kelley and Linda Jennings. Messages of condolence may be sent to: http://www.finleyfuneralhome.com.

A Masonic funeral service will be held 11 a.m., on Tuesday, Sept. 12, at FINLEY FUNERAL HOME, 15 Church Street, Livermore Falls, Maine. Visitation will be held from 4-7 p.m., on Monday, Sept. 11, at the funeral home. Interment at Gracelawn Memorial Park, 980 Turner Street, Auburn, Maine at a later date.

Contributions may be made to: Shriners Hospitals for Children, 516 Carew Street, Springfield, MA. 01104. To make a donation online, please visit: lovetotherescue.org or to Kora Temple Shrine, 11 Sabattus Street, Lewiston, Maine 04240

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