BIG STONE GAP, VA                                                             JANUARY 21, 2026

On Monday, January 19, 2026, Jonah Kelley, 46, passed away at his home after a heart attack brought on by a brief bought of pancreatitis.

Jonah was born at Wise Hospital to Larry Kelley and Mary Ellen Kelley. He graduated from J.J. Kelly High School in 1997. He attended the University of Virginia's College at Wise where he graduated with a double major in Business and Education in the Winter of 2001.

He began teaching business at J.J. Kelly in 2002. While teaching he was the student council sponsor and later the Pace coach.

While teaching, he gained his Master's in counseling from Morehead University and became the 9th and 10th grade guidance counselor at J.J. Kelly.

He then gained his Educational Specialist Degree from the University of Virginia in 2009. After working two years as guidance counselor at Wise Primary School he became the assistant principal at Wise Primary School until 2016, then he became the assistant principal/guidance counselor at Appalachia Elementary School until 2017 to when he was moved to the guidance counselor position at Wise County Vocational School and alternative education. In the spring of 2019, he suffered a serious injury that led to his retirement.

In May of 2001, he met Christy Wade, who would later become his wife. He would later joke that she became the legs of their operation while he was the brains.

He is preceded in death by his father, Larry Kelley; brother, Jason Kelley; grandparents, Flossie and Wayne Kelley, Susie and Harrison Noble, and Elizabeth Davidson; aunts, Audrey Mullins, Susan Davidson, and Sharon Holbrook; and a multitude of other friends and family.

He is survived by his wife, Christy and their fur baby, Bootz; mother, Mary Ellen Kelley of Wise; his mother-in-law, Ann Wade of Wise and father-in-law, Lewis Wheatley of Norton; his sister-in-law, Dana Kelley of Wise; nephew, Lucas Kelley of Wise; six uncles, Chalmer (Betty), Johnny (Shirley), C. H. (Peggy) Gordon, Leon (Kathy), Ricky (Theresa), and Harmon Mullins Jr.; three aunts, Scarlett Evans, Virginia Kelley, and Mary Rose Masters; special nephews, Conner and Ayden Browning; special niece, Addie Browning; and a host of many other friends and family.

Funeral Services for Jonah Kelley will be conducted at 2:00 P.M. on Thursday, January 22, 2026 at the Sturgill Funeral Home Chapel, Wise, VA with Rev. Jim Collie officiating. Burial will follow in the Wayne Kelley Cemetery in Pound, VA. The family will receive friends from 12:00 P.M. till time of services at 2:00 P.M. on Thursday, January 22, 2026 at the Sturgill Funeral Home in Wise, VA. Please visit www.sturgillfuneral.com to leave online condolences for the family.

Sturgill Funeral Home 1621 Norton Road SW Wise, VA 24293 is in charge of arrangements.