Douglas David Kelley

Doug Kelley loved life! He loved God, his wonderful family, his friends, being out on his boat, the “Lilly,” riding his motorcycle, listening to Rush Limbaugh, sipping red wine, and the Kansas Jayhawks! After suffering cardiac arrest and a brain hemorrhage, he let go of life peacefully with his wife, daughter, and son-in-law at his side on January 20, 2021 at age 66.

Doug married his high school sweetheart and wife of 45 years, Jana Dye Kelley on December 27, 1975; and they welcomed the light of their life and only child Claire Marie Kelley into their world in 1986. Doug absolutely shined the day he walked his beautiful daughter down the beach to become Mrs. Aaron Elson; and delighted in spending time with his beautiful granddaughters Lilly and Evie who adored their “Gam-pa.”

Doug was born in Duluth, Minnesota on April 21, 1954, and grew up in Kansas, graduating from the University of Kansas in 1976 with his B.S. in Business Administration and attaining his MBA/CPA in 1977. During college he was a “Yell Leader” for three years and remained an avid fan of the Jayhawks through-out his life.

Doug celebrated a long and dedicated career as a banker, including five years at Overland Park State Bank in commercial lending, then moving to Houston in 1982 to continue in his field at Texas Commerce Bank (currently J.P. Morgan Chase). In 1985 he became President of Texas Commerce Bank, Southeast In 1990 Doug became the CFO of Universal Weather & Aviation, Inc., which offered him the opportunity travel the world, until 2009. Then in September 2010 he became Executive Vice President of Colt International until his retirement in 2013. One of his former colleagues called him a “servant-leader” as he always had a way of making you feel at ease and a very important part of the team.

Ever the outdoorsman, Doug ran in 10 marathons, including the Houston Marathon. He also spent twenty years enjoying sailing in Galveston Bay or participating in various regattas. During his retirement years, he also honed his gardening skills, and let his dog Bella take him for long walks every day. His greatest joy was playing with his two granddaughters, introducing them to nature and all kinds of outside fun.

Doug is survived by his parents, Bill and Betty Kelley of Junction City, Kansas and his four brothers and their wives, Brian, Mark, Brad (Susan), and Troy (Diana) as well as sisters and brothers-in-law Leslie Dye (Dana), Pat Ranilla, Cathy Fugate (Doug), and Becky O’Donnell (Larry) and ten nieces and nephews, as well as nine great nieces and nephews. He will be forever loved and remembered by his wife Jana, daughter Claire, son-in-law Aaron Elson and two precious granddaughters Lilly and Evie.

Due to Covid-19, there will be a private memorial service. In lieu of flowers, donations will be gratefully accepted through https://www.cancerfamilies.org/doug-kelley.html (A Shelter for Cancer Families). When he had cancer nine years ago, Doug always felt lucky to live twenty minutes from MD Anderson and reflected many times about how hard it must be for out-of-town patients. A young woman they watched grow up, set up this foundation for the housing and support of cancer patients’ families who lived outside the Houston area.