Kevin Keane Skelly

It is with deep sadness that the family of Kevin Keane Skelly announces his passing, on Friday, August 30, 2019, at the age of 40 years. Kevin lived in Roswell, Georgia with his wife, Kelly and their three beautiful children. Kevin was surrounded by his family and friends when he went to be with his Lord and Savior. Kevin is survived and lovingly remembered by his wife of 13 years and best friend of 23 years, Kelly, their three young children, Liam Brendan (9), Avalynn Rose (5), Gabriel Davis Keane (3), his parents Richard and Catherine Skelly, his sisters Sharon Rich and Meghan Markham, his brother-in-laws, Jeff Rich and Jared Markham, his three nieces, Teagan Markham, Arlyn Markham and Chloe Schwalen, his two nephews, Taryn Markham and Moses, his mother-in-law, Marla Schwalen, father-in-law, Jerome Schwalen, sister-in-law, Heather Schwalen, brother-in-law Nathan Schwalen and Nathan’s life partner Ivy Wiley, hundreds of brothers and sisters in Camp Sunshine, and many other friends and colleagues.

Kevin is preceded in death by his son, Everett Joseph, his brother Brendan O’Connor, his aunt Karen O’Connor, his paternal grandparents, Richard and Mary E. Skelly, his maternal grandparents, Benedict “Red” and Agnes “Elsie” O’Connor. Kelly’s paternal grandparents, Joseph Roth and Mary and Fabian Schwalen, Kelly’s maternal grandparents, Elmer Knuth and Mildred Knuth.

As a childhood cancer survivor, Kevin attended a summer camp for children affected

by cancer called Camp Sunshine. It was there that he was given the nickname “Vinnie,”

and, as a teenager, he met his future wife, Kelly, an adolescent cancer survivor of Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. As adults, Kevin and Kelly returned to Camp Sunshine as volunteers, and it is where Kevin asked Kelly to marry him during the summer of 2005. They were married in May of 2006, and began their family in 2010. They now have three children.

Kevin always had a smile on his face, joy to share and always treated everyone with dignity and respect, genuineness and generosity. He would ask about how you were doing or lend a helping hand rather than talking about himself or asking for help. Whether as a child, a teenager or an adult, Kevin consistently put others’ needs before his own. Even when facing his own adversity, Kevin would greet others with a smile and his baritone voice, and would be genuinely concerned for others’ wellbeing over his own.

Kevin always demonstrated tremendous faith in the Lord Jesus. In 2012, his, and Kelly’s, faith was tested when they lost their infant son, Everett Joseph Skelly (April 16, 2012 to July 25, 2012), as the result of a sudden family tragedy. Their faith would be tested again in the fall of 2016 when, after being in remission, or “cured,” for more than 31 years, Kevin was diagnosed again with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, or ALL. Kevin began treatment for ALL, received a bone marrow transplant from his older sister, Sharon in spring of 2017, and then began the recovery process. However, another test of their faith would come in the fall of 2018 when, after over 14 months of remission, Kevin relapsed with ALL again. Again, Kevin began treatment, received another bone marrow transplant from his younger sister, Meghan and, again began the recovery process.

Despite two bone marrow transplants, bouts of improved health and healing, multiple hospital stays, months of every other day clinic and then over eight weeks in the intensive care unit at the hospital treating an infection…armed with a fighting spirit and with Kelly by his side on August 30th, Kevin and Kelly faced the ultimate test of their faith as Kelly and their close family and friends had to come to grips with saying goodbye to their beloved. Their hearts will never be the same without Kevin by their sides. And Kevin’s faith and perseverance will remain a constant reminder of how to courageously face the coming days, weeks, months and years without him. Beloved Kevin, you are and will continue to live on in your family’s and in your friend’s hearts and memories. ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ Matthew 25:23.

A Celebration of Life service will be held this Saturday, September 14, 2019 at 2:00 PM at Mt. Paran Church, 2055 Mt Paran Road NW, Atlanta, Georgia 30327. A memorial service will follow at Arlington Memorial Park, 201 Mt. Vernon Highway, Atlanta, Georgia 30328.

In lieu of flowers, if you would like to help Kelly and their children with all of the expenses she is facing, a GoFundMe page has been established for their support. You may click the link below entitled, The Skelly Family Fund. If you have questions about other ways to help, please contact Christopher Thurman at the bottom of the GoFundMe page.

Kelly has also created a means of communicating via The Caring Bridge. A link is available below entitled, More of Kevin's Journey.