Obituary of Kevin Reid Connelly

Kevin Reid Connelly, age 71, peacefully passed away at home with his wife by his side on Saturday, March 25, 2023,  after losing his battle with cancer. He was our hero, a fighter, and never gave up the fight. Our motto,  “In this fight together forever”, and always followed with a fist bump.

Kevin was born May 10, 1951 in St. Louis, Missouri and raised in Pine Lawn, Missouri until his family moved to the North County area.

Kevin married his soul mate and love of his life, Melynda (Bowsman-Payne) April 6, 1991. This unity of marriage included their sons:  Christopher, Brian, twins-Jeremy & Jason, and Branden. 

Kevin’s delivery career started at age 10, delivering newspapers via his bicycle.  At age 14, he delivered prescriptions for a drug store in Pine Lawn, Missouri.  He started working at UPS in Earth City, Missouri in 1984 until he transferred to the UPS terminal in Camdenton, Missouri in 1994. After 21 years he changed career paths and found his love and passion as a school bus driver.  He ended his driving career from School of the Osage due to his declining health.

Kevin was a bodybuilder, and at age 37 he came in 4^th place in his age division in the state of Missouri. He was a soccer coach and referee. He refereed indoor and outdoor soccer in St. Louis & St. Charles County and at the Missouri Show Me Games for many years.  His biggest hobby was bowling. He started bowling at age 10 and was a pinsetter at Corpus Christi Lanes in Jennings, Missouri.  He was an avid bowler and very competitive.  He was a USBC 2019 Senior Open Handicap Doubles Champion.  He went to the Las Vegas Senior National Bowling Tournament as a Senior Representative.  He bowled in leagues and went to several local, state and national bowling tournaments.

Kevin’s love of fishing started with his Grandfather Ollie. They shared many hours of fishing together on the riverbank.  Kevin & Melynda’s first date was a day of fishing at August A. Busch lake conservation area.  Their honeymoon was fishing at the Lake of the Ozarks.  Kevin was a member of the Camden Bass Club and participated in many bass fishing tournaments over the years at Lake of the Ozarks and nearby lakes.  He loved the St. Louis Cardinals.  If  he couldn’t watch the games on TV he would listen to the games on the radio. He liked to dance, play corn hole toss, washers, board games and camping.  He was a ZZ top and George Thorogood fan.  He obsessed over a clean vehicle.  His every Saturday morning ritual was to wash the vehicles before he would go or do anything.  His favorite summer pastime was feeding his hummingbirds; anywhere from 50-70 hummingbirds would arrive each year.

Kevin and Melynda attended St. Anthony Catholic Church.  He proudly served as an usher.  He was a 26 year member of the Knights of Columbus Camdenton Council # 6365.  He faithfully served in many positions, called Bingo and was Grand Knight for 4 years until he stepped down in 2021 due to his health.  Kevin was a passionate chairperson for the Tootsie Roll Drive for many years.  He was also a member of Bishop Joseph M. Marling Assembly 2111 where he held positions of Scribe, Admiral, Captain and Faithful Navigator.  He was involved in the 4^th Degree Flag Program and put flags out on legal holidays. He was also a Legion #4 Moose member for the past 12 years.

Kevin is survived by his wife Melynda and sons; Christopher Patrick and wife, Jeannie of Murfreesboro, Tennessee; Brian Joseph and wife, Kim of Wildwood, Missouri; Jeremy Michael and wife, Tori of Norwalk, Connecticut; Jason Michael of St. Charles, Missouri; and  Branden Scott Jessie and wife, Jenny, of  Markleville, Indiana; six grandsons, Austen, Daven, Kolin, Cade, Tobe,  and Liam;four granddaughters, Amanda, Cloey, Katie, and  Natalie; sister JoAnn (Connelly) Pohl of St Peters, Missouri; sister Laura Kay (Connelly) Cappel, and husband Brian of Hot Springs Village, Arkansas; along with several cousins, nieces and nephews.

Kevin was preceded in death by his parents; Joseph Anthony and Alice Georgia (Reid) Connelly; brother, Duane Connelly; sister, Patricia Ann (Connelly) Oliver; brother, Joseph Anthony Connelly, JR.; and several other relatives and friends. 

Visitation will be held on May 9, 2023 at 10:00am to 11:30am at St. Anthony's Catholic Church in Camdenton, Missouri. A funeral mass will be held following the visitation at 11:30am, and a graveside service will follow the funeral mass at St. Anthony's Catholic Cemetery, in Camdenton, Missouri.