Merrill O. Kelsay, 67, lifelong resident of Whiteland, IN, passed away Wednesday, September 21, 2016 in Greenwood, IN. He was born December 16, 1948 in Franklin, IN to Joseph R. and Ruth (Sefton) Kelsay. He married Debi L. (Doub) Kelsay on April 6, 1985 at Greenwood Christian Church.
Merrill was a 1967 graduate of Whiteland Community High School where he was a member of the Future Farmers of America Chapter and served as FFA State Vice-President from 1967-1968. He attended Purdue University. He was a lifelong farmer and businessman in Whiteland, IN. 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. In 1970, he was the FFA Star Farmer of America and received the Distinguished Hoosier Award. He received the Sagamore of the Wabash on January 9, 2005 from Governor Joseph Kernan. 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. He was a member of the Jubilee Masonic Lodge #746 F&AM, and a 50+ year member of Whiteland United Methodist Church. He was past president of the Whiteland Alumni Association.
Survivors include his wife Debi L. (Doub) Kelsay of Whiteland, IN; his mother Ruth (Sefton) Kelsay of Whiteland, IN; children Joseph M. Kelsay (Amy) of Franklin, IN, Russell O. Kelsay (Liz) of Whiteland, IN, Brittany L. Satkoski (Chris) of San Jose, CA, James M. Osborne (Alicia) of Franklin, IN; grandchildren Jenna Kelsay, Josie Kelsay, Jack Kelsay, Rhett Kelsay, Grant Kelsay and Grayson Osborne; father-in-law James Doub of Whiteland, IN; and several cousins.
He was preceded in death by his father Joseph R. Kelsay in October of 2002.
The Reverend Perry Anderson will conduct a service Saturday, September 24, 2016 at 10AM at Swartz Family Community Mortuary and Memorial Center, 300 South U.S. 31 (Morton Street) in Franklin, IN. Friends may call Friday, September 23, 2016 from 3-8PM at the mortuary. Burial will be in Greenwood Cemetery. 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 South Main Street, Franklin, IN, 46131. Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.swartzmortuary.com. Information at 317-738-0202.

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