Thomas Leroy Kelly, 45
Thomas Leroy Kelly, 45, of Creston, passed away on Thursday, April 30, 2009, in his home after a long battle with ALS, (Lou Gehrig's Disease). Thomas was born July 15, 1963, in Yakima, Wash., to Herbert and Marjorie Kelly. He moved to Eatonville, Wash., at the age of 15 and graduated from Eatonville High School.
Tom worked at Kaiser Aluminum Factory in Tacoma, Wash., along with his father for 11 years and spent the next four years in the construction and carpentry business.
He met his current wife Bobbie while building hotels in Las Vegas; after a short courtship they married and relocated to Kalispell. He had dreamed of living in the Flathead Valley since the age of 19 when he was on a crew planting trees to reforest near Libby.
Tom held several jobs after relocating to Kalispell, starting at Glacier Nursery in Creston. He then met Myron Mast and worked on the family ranch near Creston for four years, where the family still lives. His final job was at Tree Image Custom Cabinet Shop in Kalispell. He worked there until 2005, when his disease progressed to the point where he was not able to hold on to the tools used in his trade.
Tom loved the outdoors and was always able to find something to do outside, winter or summer. His favorite pastimes included snowmobiling, hunting, ice fishing and camping.
Many of his friends remember his love for entertaining his friends at outdoor cookouts where he served his famous barbecue beef brisket. He loved spending time with his family and especially loved teaching his boys how to hunt and enjoy the outdoors.
Thomas was preceded in death by his father, Herbert G. Kelly, of Kila.
He is survived by his wife, Bobbie, of Creston; four children, Michael Glenn Kelly and John Cagle of Creston, Jodi Kelly of Eatonville, and David Kelly of Virginia Beach, Va.; and two grandchildren, Nicolas and Christian, of Eatonville. He is also survived by his mother, Marjorie Kemper, of Yakima; two sisters, Tina Simpson and husband, Donny, of Creston, and Cindy Meador and husband, John, of Kila; four brothers, George Kelly, and Bruce, Brian and Jimmy Kemper, all of Yakima; also many aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews.
Friends and family may pay their respects from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, May 9, at Buffalo Hill Chapel. An informal celebration of his life will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Flathead County Fairgrounds Expo Building, 265 N. Meridian Road.