David W. Kelley

A life-long resident of Houston, David was a graduate of San Jacinto High School and Rice University. A standout athlete, he was a member of the 1957 Southwest Conference champion Rice football team, and started in the 1958 Cotton Bowl featuring Rice and The US Naval Academy. Shortly after college, David began a career in real estate, highlighted by 37 years with Hines Interest, where he served as Senior Vice President and led that firms leasing activity. He is widely acknowledged as pioneering new business practices within the Commercial Real Estate market, and is the sole recipient of the Houston Office Leasing Brokers Association Hall of Fame and was the first recipient of their annual Landlord Representative Award. For the past five years he has been employed at StarTex Title Company as a Senior Vice President.

A devoted husband, father, grandfather and friend, David married his childhood sweetheart Raye Harman in 1956. For David, family came first. His children and grandchildren could always count on him being on the side lines, courtside, attending a performance or available for a ride home. He loved life and lived large-earning from Raye and adopted by a legion of others the nickname “Big”-which aptly described his capacity for food, music, dance and an occasional wager. David never stopped making friends and he was blessed by hundreds of them, dozens dating back to grade school and the gridiron, and whether at home or at his beloved lake house in Austin, he always found time and a reason to reach out, to check in or check on, to find the latest score or just find someone to have that next meal with.

David was preceded in death by his father, Ishmael Ward Kelley; his mother, Rose Cook Kelley; his brother, Robert Gary Kelley; and his sister, Judith Kelley Diebner. He is survived by his wife, Raye; son, David “Kyle” Kelley; daughter, Jennifer Kelley Hummel and son-in-law Brad Hummel; grandchildren, Erin Raye Kelley, David Reed Kelley and Aubrey Kelley Blocker; his brother, Joel Kelley; sister-in-law Gaye Cowling, and numerous extended family.

The family would like to personally thank all of the many well-wishers for your love and support during this difficult time. The visits with David at home and in the hospital; the cards, letters and prayers brightened his days and eased his way.

A memorial service, is to be conducted at two o’clock in the afternoon on Sunday, the 21st of April, in the Jasek Chapel of Geo. H. Lewis & Sons, 1010 Bering Drive in Houston, where Dr. Linda Christians, Executive Pastor of St. Luke’s United Methodist Church, and Roy Walter, Rabbi Emeritus of Congregation Emanu El, are to officiate. Immediately following, all are invited to greet the family during a reception in the adjacent grand foyer.

Serving as honorary pallbearers during Sunday’s service are Perry Waughtal, Lester Lehman, John Morrow, Roy Elledge, Doug Osborn, Louis Macey, Louis Sklar, Lanny Glick, Mike Wells, Alan Finger, Ronnie Martin, Don Neuenschwander, and the 1953 San Jacinto High School Golden Bears Band of Brothers.

In lieu of customary remembrances, the family requests, with gratitude, that contribution’s in David’s name be directed to My Friends Foundation, P.O. Box 25294, Houston, TX, 77265, (whose sole objective is providing support and assistance to abused, abandoned and traumatized children).