Posted 12/9/2006 6:56:44 PM by Webmaster
News from Barbara Anne Moore viewed 679 times
Saturday, December 09, 2006 - Bath, Maine
Legendary circus clown Emmett Kelly Jr. dead at 83. He will be sadly missed by all of us.
Associated PressNov. 30, 2006 05:55 PM
Emmett Kelly Jr., son of one of the nation's most famous hobo clowns who followed his father into a career under the big top, died Wednesday. He was 83.Kelly died of complications from pneumonia at Sierra Vista Regional Health Center near his home in Tombstone, according to his daughter, CherryAnn Kelly-Knapp."Up until the day he died, he got letters and cards and poems from fans and friends," Kelly-Knapp said Thursday. "The world has lost the most wonderful friend."
Born in Dyersburg, Tenn., Kelly spent much of his childhood around the circus industry.His father - before being a clown - and mother, Eva Mae, performed as trapeze artists, according to Kelly's official Web site.Wanting their son to live in a stable environment, Kelly's parents allowed his grandparents to raise him but he spent summers traveling with the circus, the Web site said.At 18, Kelly enlisted in the U.S. Navy and spent three years in the Pacific. After World War II, his Web site said Kelly planned to work as an automotive mechanic.In 1960, with the makeup and blessing of his father, Kelly made his clown debut at the Circus Festival in Peru, Ind.,Kelly's miming and clowning skills grew in popularity. Four years later, Eastman Kodak signed him to appear at the New York World's Fair.Besides touring with the circus, Kelly went on to entertain at more than 2,800 hospitals and he was featured in print ads and TV commercials. His Web site said there are still products today depicting his likeness available, such as figurines and lithographs."He was the most humble, gentle loving man. He never got over the amazement that people loved his character," Kelly-Knapp said.In 1980, Kelly moved to Tombstone. Having passed through the town several times with the circus, he fell in love with the town's mining history, Kelly-Knapp said.Kelly made personal appearances as a clown until a year ago, due to health reasons.He is survived by two other daughters and three sons.Funeral plans were not immediately available.
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