Johnny W. Kellum (Seymour)'s Obituary
Johnny W. Kellum was born July 1, 1936, in Baxter County, Arkansas, the third eldest of ten children born to John Franklin and Velma (Pherigo) Kellum. After a lifetime of dedication to his faith, family, and farm, he departed this life at his home in rural Seymour on November 1, 2020, at the age of eighty-four.
Johnny met the love of his life, Jewell Ann Todd, after he moved from Mountain Home to Seymour for work in 1955, and his sister began dating Jewell’s brother. They married on July 1, 1957, and to this union their son, Melvin, was born in 1960. Early on he worked for several years for Monroe Pool at the stave mill. He worked for a time, alongside with Jewell, at the casket companies in Marshfield, and then Brown Shoe Factory in Seymour. Johnny started working construction in 1973, and several years later started his own company, Kellum Construction. He officially retired in 1998, passing the business on to Melvin. Johnny continued to help in the background for the next 20 years. In his spare time, he liked to drive for the Amish community.
Johnny was a hands-on dad and grandpa who led by example and believed in a hard day’s work. How he and Jewell lived their lives shaped their family into fine people. He kept a ‘hobby’ farm with cattle and goats that Jewell and their grandchildren all helped work and enjoy.
In addition to his parents, and father- and mother-in-law, Andrew J. and Dora May (Carpenter) Todd, Johnny W. was preceded in death by his siblings and their spouses, Icle and Chester Elliott, Nora Maxine and Horace C. Todd, Floy Marie and John Shur, A.D. Kellum, Virgie and Bill Tavis; his brothers- and sisters-in law and their spouses, Kenneth Todd, Nora Todd, Horace and Maxine Todd, and his second wife, Jewell Lee Todd, Clarence A. and Ethel Todd, Lula and Jim Nelson, Lawrence and Anna Todd, Dorie and Pete Hoskins, Bud Todd, Homer Todd, Frank Todd, David Smith, and Jimmy Lynn Leath. Johnny W. leaves behind his beloved wife and soulmate of over 63 years, Jewell Kellum, of the home; their adored son, Melvin W. Kellum and his wife, Kelly; a grandson who cherished time with his Grandpa, Joshua Wade Kellum and his wife, Chasten; a Grampy to great-granddaughter, Braylee LeAnn Kellum, and great-grandson, Braden J.W. Kellum; four siblings, Alta Mae Smith, Josephine Philpott, Eva Lynn Leath, Delmar Lee Kellum, and sisters-in-law, Patty (Pepper) Kellum, and Diane Todd; a host of nieces, great-nieces, nephews, and great-nephews; as well as many, many dear friends and neighbors.
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