From the Paragould Daily Press, 20 Jul 2003:

The Rev. Earl D. McKelvey, 70, of Paragould, died Thursday, July 17, 2003, at Regional medical Center of Northeast Arkansas at Jonesboro.

He was born Aug. 14, 1932, in Greene County and was pastor of First Freewill Baptist Church.  he was a retired businessman, a former employee of Foremost Dairy and a Chase National Life Insurance salesman.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Printice McKelvey and Emo Owens McKelvey Like; his stepfather, Otis Like; three sisters, Helen McKelvey, Dorothy Webster and Evelyn "Short" Spears; and one grandson, Aaron Micah Barnhardt.

Survivors include his wife, Barbara Jean McKelvey of Paragould; three sons and one daughter-in-law; one daughter and son-in-law; two brothers and one sister-in-law; one sister; six grandchildren; one great-grandchild; and many cousins, nieces, nephews and friends.

The funeral will be at 1 p.m. Monday at Heath Colonial Chapel in Paragould with the Rev. Kim Bridges, the Rev. Tommy Knodell and David McKelvey officiating.  Burial will be in Greene County Memorial Gardens in Paragould under the direction of Heath Funeral Home.

Pallbearers are Jack McKelvey, Tim McKelvey, David McKelvey, Paul Barnhardt, Joshua Barnhardt, Nathan McKelvey, Jordon Barnhardt and Sammy Ellington.

Honorary pallbearers are Clinton Holder, Jim Brotmarkle, Darrell Brotemarkle, Frankie Hammond, Randall Garner, Russell Fields, Earl Michaels, Raymond Murphy, Rex Hall, Denver Stokes, Pete Moore, Phillip Pollock, Eddie Leach, Donald Grissom and Wendell Eubanks.  Visitation will be from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m. today at Heath Funeral Home.

Memorials may be made to First Freewill Baptist Church, 1311 W. Court St., Paragould, AR 72450.