Kelley Ray Sanchez

Kelley Ray Sanchez passed away unexpectedly at age 55 on August 11th, 2025, in Gainesville, Florida. Sanchez was born in Norman, Oklahoma, on May 4th, 1970. He is predeceased by his grandparents: Guillermo and Marta Sanchez, Raymond and Margret Swift. He is survived by his wife of 26 years, Carrie Sanchez; children, William (Bailey), Evelyn, and Joseph Sanchez; parents, William and Linda Sanchez; sister, Kerri Sanchez (Kent); mother-and-father-in-law, Trish and John Clifton; brother-in-law, John Clifton (Amy); nieces and nephews, Ansley Clifton, Jackson Peterson, Graham Peterson, Bailey Clifton, and Olivia Peterson; and his Jack Russel, Boomer.

Although he was headstrong and liked to tease, Kelley Sanchez was a great man. His name means warrior, and he was a fighter for the things he loved: his family and his faith. He was a great listener and mentor- when you talked, it mattered to him.

Kelley ran track, wrestled, and played football at Harrisburg High School in South Dakota, class of 1988. He attended the University of Oklahoma, South Dakota State University, and the California Culinary Academy. Kelley owned a restaurant on Main Street, Sioux Falls, SD, called the Fat Duck Bistro. He later found a career in business solutions with A&B Business in South Dakota & R.K. Black in Oklahoma. After moving to Florida this summer, he was excited to train people in a new business adventure with a company called FiveFour. Kelley might not admit to it, but he was a great leader- he loved to pour into and inspire others, to help.

Kelley worked with Fellowship of Christian Sportsman Plus (FCS) in South Dakota: serving as a board member, cooking for the Wild Game Feed, and teaching people to fly fish in the Black Hills. He additionally served as a board member for Linwood Wesleyan Church. During his last several years living in Edmond, OK, Kelley volunteered with Club at Crossing’s Community Center. He served kids at the club alongside his son and taught kids how to cook. He had hoped to find new ways to serve kids in Florida. Kelley never imagined he’d change the world, but he always believed in changing his community by taking action and being kind to others. In the way he loved others, he was the salt of the Earth.

Kelley cooked the best Thanksgiving turkey and went fishing on his lunch breaks. He loved to tie flies, and he was an extremely gifted artist. He loved to share his passion for OU sports and the Great Outdoors with his family.

Of all the things he ever did, his proudest accomplishment was his family. He will be remembered as a loving husband, a hardworking father, a pesky brother, a determined son, an influential uncle, a loyal friend, and an unwavering follower of Christ.

Memorial services will be held at Linwood Wesleyan Church in Sioux Falls, South Dakota