<p>Merrill O. Kelsay</p>
<p>WHITELAND</p>
<p>Merrill O. Kelsay, 67, lifelong resident of Whiteland, passed away Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2016, in Greenwood.</p>
<p>He was born Dec. 16, 1948, in Franklin, to Joseph R. and Ruth (Sefton) Kelsay.</p>
<p>He married Debi L. (Doub) Kelsay on April 6, 1985, at Greenwood Christian Church.</p>
<p>He was a 1967 graduate of Whiteland Community High School, where he was a member of the Future Farmers America Chapter and served as FFA state vice president from 1967 to 1968. He attended Purdue University.</p>
<p>He was a lifelong farmer and businessman in Whiteland. Over the years, he and his family owned grain elevators, a fertilizer distribution, a swine operation, and currently a seventh-generation dairy in Johnson County.</p>
<p>In 1970, he was the FFA Star Farmer of America and received the Distinguished Hoosier Award. He received the Sagamore of the Wabash on Jan. 9, 2005 from Gov. Joseph Kernan.</p>
<p>He was on the board of directors for the Greenwood Cemetery and Greenwood Village South, served on the Johnson County Drainage Board and Johnson County Planning and Zoning Board, was a founding board member of the Indiana Dairy Producers and served on the American Dairy Association of Indiana.</p>
<p>He was a member of the Jubilee Masonic Lodge No. 746 F&AM, and a 50-plus year member of Whiteland United Methodist Church. He was past president of the Whiteland Alumni Association.</p>
<p>Survivors include his wife, Debi L. (Doub) Kelsay of Whiteland; his mother, Ruth (Sefton) Kelsay of Whiteland; children, Joseph M. Kelsay (Amy) of Franklin, Russell O. Kelsay (Liz) of Whiteland, Brittany L. Satkoski (Chris) of San Jose, California, James M. Osborne (Alicia) of Franklin; grandchildren, Jenna Kelsay, Josie Kelsay, Jack Kelsay, Rhett Kelsay, Grant Kelsay and Grayson Osborne; father-in-law, James Doub of Whiteland; and several cousins.</p>
<p>He was preceded in death by his father, Joseph R. Kelsay in October of 2002.</p>
<p>The Rev. Perry Anderson will conduct a service at 10 a.m. Saturday at Swartz Family Community Mortuary and Memorial Center, 300 U.S. 31 South (Morton Street) in Franklin. Friends may call from 3 to 8 p.m. on Friday at the mortuary. Burial will be at Greenwood Cemetery.</p>
<p>The family requests memorial contributions be made to the Johnson County Community Foundation, attention Merrill Kelsay Memorial for FFA sponsorships, P.O. Box 217, 398 S. Main St., Franklin, IN 46131.</p>
<p>Online condolences may be sent to the family at <a href="http://www.swartzmortuary.com">www.swartzmortuary.com</a>.</p>
<p><strong>Information:</strong> 317-738-0202</p>
<p>Obituary policy</p>
<p>The Daily Journal offers both free death notices and paid custom obituaries for Johnson County area residents, former residents and close relatives of area residents.</p>
<p>The deadline for submitting obituaries to the Daily Journal is 2:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. On Sundays, the deadline is 1 p.m.</p>
