Stanley “Stan” Richard Kelly, Sr., 90, of Dixon, KY, passed away peacefully at home on Tuesday, October 29, 2024, surrounded by loving family members and caregivers.
He was born on March 22, 1934, in Cork City Ireland, the fifth of six children, to the late Violet Sheehan Kelly and Michael Kelly. He grew up in Cork, but emigrated to Scotland as a young adult, where he attended Paisley Technical College. He earned the Higher National Certificate in Chemistry while also working for Imperial Chemical Industries (ICI) at Ardeer in North Ayrshire. In February of 1958, Stan emigrated to the United States to take a position as research assistant with Ensign Bickford Industries in Simsbury, Connecticut. Stan spent over forty years in research and development with EB (rising to the level of manager and earning several patents along the way), first in Simsbury, then in Colorado, and finally at their facility in Kentucky, where he retired in the late 1990s. In Simsbury, Stan met and married his first wife, Rose, with whom he had seven children (Mike, Jack, Patrick, Tom, Stan Jr., Laura, and Lisa). A brief second marriage in the late 1980s produced another daughter, Brette. After moving to Kentucky, Stan met and married Sharon in 1992, becoming stepdad to her 4 daughters (Kim, Tammy, Nickki, and Summer).
Stan loved the outdoors and always preferred to be outside working in his garden, sailing, camping, chopping wood, walking the dogs, and in later years tending to his vineyard. He did however always make time to watch the evening news (Walter Cronkite in the old days, and more recently Judy Woodruff or Lester Holt) and read the newspaper, while sitting in his favorite armchair. He loved all kinds of music, from the Irish folk tunes of the Clancy Brothers to Johnny Cash, Tchaikovsky, and even the Bee Gees. He played the harmonica and sang in the church choir until well into his 80s. He was very well-read, which combined with his love of music meant he would often quote bits of poetry or burst into song, depending on the situation. Stan was immensely proud of his Irish heritage, so despite having served six months active duty in the United States Army and several years in the Reserves, he never gave up his Irish citizenship, although there were certainly times when he wished he could vote!
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his granddaughter, Amber Frost; sisters, Joan Kelly McCarthy and Ita Kelly Thompson; and a brother, Michael Kelly.
Survivors include his wife of thirty-two years, Sharon Porter Kelly; daughters, Lisa (David) Frost of Brush, CO, Laura Kelly of Thorton, CO, Brette Kelly of Canada, Summer Warren of Nashville, TN, Tammy (Tim) Michael of Cookeville, TN, Kim (Kyle) Gilles of Nashville, TN, and Nikki Poole of Madisonville; sons, Michael (April) Kelly of Littleton, CO, John “Jack” Kelly of Minneapolis, MN, Patrick “Pat” (Dezi) Kelly and Thomas Kelly, both of Hanson, KY, and Stanley Kelly, Jr. of Madisonville, KY; brother, Noel (Pearl) Kelly; eighteen grandchildren; numerous great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
A funeral mass will be celebrated at 12 p.m. on Monday, November 4, 2024, at Christ the King Catholic Church, 1600 Kingsway Drive, Madisonville, KY, with Father Steve Hohman officiating. Burial will take place at Slaughters Cemetery in Slaughters, KY followed by a reception back at the church. Harris Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.
Visitation will be from 10 a.m. until the funeral hour on Monday at the church.
Pallbearers are Mike Kelly, Tom Kelly, Stan Kelly, Christopher Frost, Tim Michael, and Gray Michael. Honorary pallbearer is Pat Kelly.
The family wishes to thank Stan’s medical providers and hospice team, and to especially recognize his in-home caregivers, Tosha, Sindy, Suzie, and Allison. Thanks to their remarkable kindness and compassionate care, he was able to stay in his own home with family until the end of his life.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be directed to the St. Vincent de Paul Society of Madisonville.
Online condolences may be made to the family at www.harrisfuneralinc.com
Comments