Leon Everett Kelsey, 86 passed away on Monday, June 5, 2023 at the Bedrock Rehabilitation and Nursing Facility at Suwannee in Live Oak, Florida.  He was born in Elmira, New York to the late Clifford Eugene Kelsey and Margaret Mildred Oakes Kelsey.  Leon was known to his family and friends by his nickname "Bert",  given to him as a toddler by his Grandmother Phoebe Oakes. He moved to the North Florida area in 2014.  He was previously a longtime resident of the Horseheads, Elmira and Painted Post areas of New York.  Leon graduated from Horseheads High School in 1954, where he served as President of his Freshman Class. He took great pride in his 42 year career as a Punch Press Operator at Ingersoll Rand in Painted Post, New York, retiring in 1998.  For several years after his retirement, he would meet each weekday with a small group of other Ingersoll Rand retirees at a nearby McDonald's Restaurant for coffee, food and shared conversation.  In his spare time, he enjoyed collecting and trading coins, baseball cards, going to rummage sales, estate sales and flea markets on the weekends; camping and fishing, playing cards, and games like Kismet and Yahtzee with family and friends.  He was a friendly and laid-back man who loved meeting people, never meeting a stranger.  He looked forward to the regular Bingo games at the Bedrock Rehab Facility where he was announced as the "Big Winner" several times and proudly displayed the Bingo money wreath placed on his door! He loved listening to his Country Music; Most especially Hank Williams Sr and other singers from the 1950's and 1960's.  His attention to detail resulted in him recording all kinds of trivia from his daily activities.  Any and everything that he felt important to record for his future reference.

Leon was preceded in death by his parents, aunts, uncles, several  cousins, grandparents; his first wife, Rita Ann Brown, second wife, Sharon Lee Pritchard and their infant daughter, Donna Marie Kelsey; Longtime companion Linda Sears; Six siblings, Robert Kelsey, Joyce Felker, Natalie VanGelder, Lourayne Grannis, Betty Jean Moody and Dorothy Decker; four grandchildren, James Hallett, Christopher Johnson, and infant twins, Joshua and Paul Johnson.

Left to cherish his memory are his four children, Lewis (Glenda) Kelsey, Traverse City, MI, Linda Hallett, Virginia Beach, VA, Susan Kelsey, Alexandria, VA and Eric (Cori) Kelsey Sr, Pine City, NY; one sister, who was his caregiver in recent years, Beverly  (Stan) Williams, Wellborn, Fl.;  a 1st cousin and childhood playmate, Charles (Joyce) Glover, Big Flats, NY;  five  grandchildren, Zachary Padgett, Eric (Trinity) Kelsey Jr., Cammaron Kelsey, Mason Kelsey and Grace Kelsey; Several nieces, nephews and many cousins.

The family wishes to thank his caregivers and the staff at the Bedrock Rehab Facility, the VITAS Hospice nurses and staff, Dr Begum, and Chaplain Judy, for their attentive concern and care for our loved one.

It was Leon's request to be cremated. No local services are scheduled.  The immediate family will have a private gathering in New York at a later date.