Floyd Patrick Kelley

Patrick Kelley was born on March 16, 1931 in Commerce, Texas. His childhood was spent living in Dallas, Texas where he would attend Forest High School, graduating in June 1949. During his junior year, he was recruited to play for the school’s basketball team, an event that would forever change his life. With the help of his coaches, Patrick would eventually evolve from a minimally skilled prospect into a star player. By his senior year, he was an All-City and All-State basketball player.

Patrick then attended North Texas State College (now the University of North Texas) on a full basketball scholarship. He would eventually become a three-year All-Conference player for the Mean Green, holding many scoring records for decades, accomplishments that would later result in Patrick being inducted into the University of North Texas Athletic Hall of Fame in 2003.

While at North Texas State, Patrick was a member of the Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity and would meet the love of his life, Mary Beth Long, who would become his wife on September 6th, 1953.

After graduating from college, Patrick served his country for two years in the U.S. Marine Corps as a 1st Lieutenant Platoon Leader, stationed in Okinawa and Japan.

Following his discharge from the Marines in 1955, Patrick returned home to Dallas, embarking upon a successful 32-year insurance career, beginning with underwriting property and casualty accounts for Travelers, and culminating with his responsibility for serving large oil and gas industry accounts for major worldwide companies such as Halliburton and Brown and Root. His insurance career took him from Dallas to Kansas City, before settling in Houston in January, 1971. He would retire from the business in 1988.

In 1975, Patrick joined Cypress Creek Christian Church, which would eventually become the focus of his life after retirement from business. He was privileged to serve the church in many capacities as a Licensed Minister for 21 years. He was blessed to participate in the development of the church from a small gathering at Bammel Middle School to the successful church it is today.

Patrick was a family man devoted to his wife, Mary Beth, for 65 years, and to his children and grandchildren. He was the type of person to whom friends and family could turn to, always there to listen and give advice when needed. In addition to his own children and grandchildren, Patrick was a mentor and a de facto father figure to many others that would cross his path, and a significant number of them have maintained that Patrick had a part in making them the person they are today by the guidance he gave them in their lives.

Patrick had many interests and passions over his lifetime, participating in community theatre, painting, reading, in particular fiction and nonfiction history, teaching Bethel Bible Study, and, of course, sports, especially watching and following his Astros. In addition, he had a great passion and love of music, accumulating over his lifetime a large collection of varying artists and albums he loved to listen to, and eventually learning to play the guitar and piano himself. This love of music would be passed down to his children, one of the many gifts he would give them over their lives.

Patrick is survived by his children, Linda Castilla, Stephen (Stacey) Kelley, Sharon (Randy) Brown, Darren Kelley, grandchildren, Cara (Steve)Rosier, Lauren Valinoti, Corban (Erica) Bates, Patrick (Kitty) Kelley, Kelley (Turner) Dawson, Natalie Bates, great grandchildren, Dawson Bates, Everett Bates. He was preceded in death by his wife, Mary Beth, and his grandson Taylor Bates.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to The Summerhouse (summerhousehouston.org) in honor of Patrick’s love and support for his granddaughter, Natalie, who has autism. The Summerhouse exists to create personal growth opportunities for young adults with intellectual disabilities who need a place to belong.

A special thank you to Grace Hospice staff for their loving support.

Funeral Arrangements will be held on March 21, 2019 at 10:00 A.M. in the Grand Chapel of American Heritage Funeral Home. A visitation will be held before the funeral service from 9:00 A.M to 10:00A.M. A committal service is to follow where we lay Mr. Kelley to rest at Houston National Cemetery and where he will be receiving his military honors. A reception is to follow our committal services in the Magnolia Event Room at American Heritage Funeral Home.