Paul Louis Kelly

Paul L. Kelly was born on April 10, 1928 in Denver, Colorado and passed away January 29, 2013 in Thornton, Colorado, when he was reunited with his wife, Jean, who preceded him in death in October 2012.

Paul was the eldest of 4 children born to Louis and Elsie Kelly, and spent his youth growing up in the country in and around Denver and Arvada, as well as a short time in Kansas. He was an avid and skilled hunter, trapper, fisherman and outdoorsman in his youth, but focused on fishing and camping in his later years. At age 17, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy, and was stationed at the Naval Weapons Depot in Seal Beach, California as WWII drew to a close. It was on a blind date that Paul met Jean, whom he dated for 6 months before eloping to Las Vegas in September 1946. Their union lasted 66 years and produced 5 children—2 sons and 3 daughters.

Upon being discharged from the Navy, Paul took up construction, mentored by a friend in the drywall trade, and began a career that spanned 50 years (40 as a drywall hanger and finisher and as a painter for the last 10 years prior to retirement). Along the way, he learned almost every aspect of building and remodeling—carpentry, drywall, painting, plumbing, masonry, tile setting, electrical wiring, etc.—skills he passed on to his sons when they worked with him during the summers. At two times in his life, he also owned a drywall company in California and a radiator repair business in Colorado. He was active in his local painters' union until he retired.

Paul moved his family back and forth between Colorado and Jean's native California several times until settling for good in Arvada in 1968 with their 3 youngest children. They were active in their church and in their children's lives—school and school functions, Scouts, camping, and fishing trips. When the grandchildren started arriving, they were just as involved, helping to care for them, and sharing their love of the outdoors by teaching the little ones how to fish and taking them on camping trips. Since Jean was a genealogist, Paul became her chauffeur on trips around Colorado and to various states where she could do her research. At age 62, he survived a bout with lung cancer. He was an avid reader and enjoyed discussing current events and history around the dinner table with his children when they were in school. In retirement, he also took up jewelry making, woodcarving, and watching the Rockies and Broncos games on TV. Unfortunately, in his later years, he developed macular degeneration and hearing loss, which robbed him of these and other pastimes for the most part.

Paul is survived by his children Allen (Velma), Diane (Ken) Searer, Gary, Holly (Bill) Hipp, and Becky (Dave) Fieber; 10 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; and 4 great-great-grandchildren; as well as many nieces, nephews, and cousins. He was a wonderful father and husband, and he will be forever loved and missed, but resides in peace together with his beloved wife in their heavenly home.

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