Lee Scott Kelley

Lee “Scott” Kelley

Memorial Service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, January 31, 2026 at Weatherford Presbyterian Church, 204 South Main Street, Weatherford, Texas 76086

Officiating: Lou Tiscione

Lee “Scott” Kelley, 62, was born in Fort Worth, Texas, on December 4, 1963, to Mary Cutrell. Four days later, he was adopted by two wonderful parents, Hubert and Edna Kelley.

Scott grew up in Wichita Falls until the age of nine, where his lifelong love of nature began. He spent countless hours exploring the outdoors, collecting insects and rocks; early pursuits that sparked a deep love of science. Exploration became a defining theme of his life and eventually led to a career in the oil and gas industry.

In 1972, the family moved to Austin, Texas, where Scott formed many lifelong friendships. At the age of 15, he became a Christian after coming to understand the true meaning of the Gospel. He graduated from Anderson High School in 1982 and went on to earn a Bachelor of Science in Geology from the University of Texas at Austin in 1986. From 1988 to 1990, Scott pursued theological education at the International School of Theology, completing 139 credit hours. He then moved to Fort Worth to attend Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, where he earned a Master of Divinity in Biblical Languages from 1990 to 1993. Continuing his love of science, Scott later attended the University of Texas at Arlington, earning a Master of Science in Geology in 2000. It was there, in his paleontology lab class, that he met his future wife, Taresa.

Scott and Taresa were married on March 18, 2000. They lived in Fort Worth until moving to Weatherford in 2010. A devoted husband and father, Scott loved his family deeply—second only to his love for the Lord. Each morning before the school day began, he met with his sons, Trevor and Joshua, pouring wisdom and teaching of the Lord into their lives.

Scott’s love for the Lord began early while he attended First Presbyterian Church in Wichita Falls. Throughout his life, he shared his faith generously, leading Bible studies during lunch breaks at work and serving actively within the church. After retiring from ExxonMobil in 2020, Scott felt called to serve the church more fully in any way needed. While studying and taking classes toward ordination, Scott was diagnosed with ALS, a disease with a life expectancy of two to five years.

Scott had many interests and hobbies, including chess, fossil hunting, fly fishing, disc golf, history, philosophy, astronomy, reading, and lifelong learning. He traveled to many countries, always exploring, learning, and sharing his passion for life. A natural-born teacher, Scott delighted in sharing both his love of nature and his faith in the Lord with others.

In his final years, Scott focused on his family and on reconnecting with friends, some he had not seen since middle school.

Scott was preceded in death by his mother, Edna Hickman; stepfather, Don Hickman; and stepmother, Ruth Kelley.

He is survived by his father, Hubert Kelley; his wife, Taresa Kelley; his children, Jessica Nicole Brown, Trevor Daniel Kelley, and Joshua Lee Kelley; his sister, Krispen Thielepape, and her husband, Sam; as well as numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews, family members, and friends.

“My life has been marked by discovery, learning, wonder, and beauty. Investing in God’s two books: the book of nature and the book of Scripture. God’s revelation has been what my life is about: investigating, revealing, and teaching the wonders of God.” - Scott

Ephesians 2:8–10 “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”