James Michael Kelly

James (“Jim”) was born in Seattle to his mother, Mary Kelly, while she worked for Boeing as a riveter supporting the war effort. His father, James Kelly, was serving overseas in WWII and wouldn’t see his son until Christmas of 1945 when thankfully, little Jim remarked after meeting his dad for the first time, “I like that man!” Jim ruled the roost as both the oldest and only boy in the Kelly household after being joined by five younger sisters. He spent his whole life in Spokane, attending St. Ann’s grade school and graduating from Gonzaga Prep High School in 1962. After one semester at Gonzaga University, he decided college wasn’t for him and joined his dad in the family sewer business, Kelly’s Sewer Service – owning it himself after his father’s death in 1978. He joined the maintenance crew at the industrial park on Sullivan in the early 1990s and retired from there in 2009.

Jim’s buddy from grade school and high school, George Engelhard, introduced him to the sister of the girl he was going to marry and soon enough, Jim and George married sisters Cammi and Margaret (Peggy) Vedder. Jim and Peggy were married June 1, 1968 at St. Thomas More Parish in Spokane and children soon followed. Heather Kathleen Kelly was first in 1969, followed shortly thereafter by Megan Michelle Kelly (Duvall) in 1970. Jim and Peggy set down roots on Ferrall Court on the South Hill in 1975 and stayed put for the next 45 years, keeping a vigilant eye on the changing neighborhood from the kitchen window.

Jim was known as a “man’s man” in a world in which he was surrounded by women! He was an avid outdoorsman – hunting (especially his epic trips with buddies, Frank and Larry in Montana), fishing, camping, target shooting, four-wheeling, and escaping city life in general. As a younger man, he could be seen racing around Spokane in a variety of fast cars – his favorite and the one he wished he hadn’t sold was a 1965 GTO. He always had a full dark beard and moustache, a flannel shirt and suspenders, a ball cap (or cowboy hat) on his head and a signature Swisher Sweet cigar clenched in his teeth. He came off as gruff, but he was quick to laugh – and oh what a big laugh it was! He never missed a sporting event that his daughters competed in – even when they played at the same time in different parts of the City. He was a good Catholic, attending mass weekly for the great majority of his life – most recently at St Ann Parish. And despite years of proclamations to the contrary, he loved cats!

After Peggy’s death in 2009, Jim retired from the Park. Over the next several years, he enjoyed visits with his grandchildren and long-awaited son-in-law Lindsay in Western Washington before the family moved back to Spokane in 2014. His memory began to fail him in the years after 2014 and as the cruel disease of dementia took over, Jim’s world began to shrink. He began a new chapter in late 2019 when he moved into Pine Ridge Alzheimer’s Special Care Center – where he continued to make staff laugh with his antics! He passed away April 14, 2021 with his family at his side, daughters Heather and Megan and son-in-law, Lindsay Duvall.

Jim is survived by his daughters Heather Kelly (Chad Bennett) and Megan (Lindsay) Duvall; grandchildren Peyton (16) and Ryder (14) Duvall; his sisters: Ann (Mike) Kaluza, Patty Kelly, Peggy (Monty) Shultz, Rose (Jim) Rhodes and Teresa (Skip) Kelly Johnson; his brothers and sisters-in-law; countless nieces and nephews and many good friends. He was predeceased by his wife, Peggy, and parents, Jim and Mary Kelly.

Funeral mass will be held at Our Lady of Lourdes Cathedral, 1115 W Riverside Ave, Spokane, at 10 am on Thursday, May 27th.