James Patrick “Pat” Kelly of Allegan, formerly of Hastings, passed away Thursday, Aug. 20, 2020 at Wings of Hope Hospice House in Allegan. He was 92 ½ years old.
Born in Hastings, February 23, 1928, Pat was the sixth son of Frank and Gladys (Beck) Kelly. He also had one younger sister.
He graduated from Hastings High School in 1946. After high school Pat served in the U.S. Amy, at one time stationed in the Aleutian Islands.
On October 8, 1950 he married his high school sweetheart, Julianne Cooper. Together they raised seven children, all of whom survive: Frank (Wendy) Kelly, Ann (Mark) Prymula, Mona (Lyle) Thomas, Nora Kelly (Joe Wilson), Colleen (Von) Haning, Jim (Tracy) Kelly, John (Ruta) Kelly. Also surviving are 19 grandchildren and 17 great grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Julianne (his wife); his brothers, Frank R. (Bob), Hugh A., Donald N., Howard (Miles), William T. (Bill), and his sister, Mary Ellen Goggins. Also preceding him in death were granddaughters, Nadine West, and Meghan Haning, and great grandson, Alexander J. Thomas.
Pat grew up working various jobs in Hastings. He told his daughter about using a horse-drawn plow to clear snow from streets and sidewalks downtown Hastings as well as summers spent working clean-up on the midway and grandstand at the Barry County Fairgrounds.
As an adult he worked at Barry County Lumber before moving to Allegan to work for the Cavin Rudisill Company at Allegan Builders Supply. He eventually bought that lumber yard and operated it as Kelly’s Home Center. He opened a second location at Merson Corners in 1979 and continued in business until his retirement when he sold the business to Legg Lumber.
He was a very generous man both in tangible offerings and in opinions. He was known to have a crusty exterior, but an inside made of pure marshmallow. He especially loved his grand and great grandchildren, being increasingly smitten as each new one came along.
He had a big heart and was always thinking of others. When he heard someone was sick or something bad had happened he would make arrangements to get a rotisserie chicken and a cherry pie delivered to them. Sometimes a delivery of flowers or a stuffed teddy bear was more appropriate, and he made that happen, too.
People were not alone in benefitting from Pat’s generous nature. He was always an animal lover. His early years were spent caring for cows, horses, dogs and cats. There was rarely a time when he didn’t have a pet or two in his house. He spent his recent months feeding the birds, cats, squirrels, turkey and deer that found their way to his yard.
He set a fine example of keeping promises and saying what you truly mean. His passing leaves a great hole in our family and we will miss him tremendously.
Due to the Covid 19 pandemic no public service will be held. If you wish to make a memorial donation in his name, please consider; Wings of Hope Hospice, or the Allegan Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses.
The family is being served by Gorden Funeral Home, Allegan Chapel.