Paul Clark Kelley

Paul was born on January 7, 1952 in Albuquerque, NM, where he spent an active childhood playing tennis, skiing, and accompanying his father on geological expeditions. Paul grew up deeply imbued in evangelical Christianity, but came to question that belief system in his thirties. He then pursued studies in mathematics, first at Georgia State University, then Georgia Tech and eventually earning double masters in math, probability & statistics from the University of California at Irvine. After completing his undergraduate degree in GA, he and his first wife, Nicole Kelley, welcomed their son, John P. Kelley, in 1974. Later they moved back to Atlanta, GA, where Paul spent his career as an actuary for Northern Trust Corporation.

Paul retired in 1999 and moved to Hawaii, where he spent many years enjoying the natural beauty of Kauai, and where he had a second career-teaching math at the Island School and the Kauai Community College. Along with his second wife, Debra Friedman, he moved to Tucson, AR for a few years, but returned to his beloved Hawaii. Paul loved the outdoors, hiking, swimming in the ocean, and was always ready for an adventure. He was an avid chess player, loved a good story, talking about math and politics, reading math books, and problem solving. In November of 2021, Paul moved to Portland, OR, to live with his son and daughter-in-law. His granddaughter, Georgia, brought him great joy during his last months.

Paul was preceded in death by his father and mother, Vincent C. and Anne R. Kelley; his brothers David, John, and Robert Kelley; his sister-in-law, Ruth Kelley; and his wife, Debra Friedman. He will be greatly missed by his son, John P. Kelley, daughter-in-law Joy Leising-Kelley, and granddaughter Georgia Leising-Kelley; brother- and sister-in laws Mark and Maria Friedman; six nieces, Barbara Kelley, Diane Castleman, Ehrin Griffith , Kristen Kelley and Maria Friedman; three nephews, Daniel Kelley, David Kelley, and Danny Friedman; six grandnephews, and four grandnieces.

Paul C. Kelley will be remembered with a cremation niche at Lincoln Memorial Cemetery in Portland, or. A portion of his ashes will be shared with close family members to spread around the country in places he loved. A celebration of life will be scheduled in the coming year to remember Paul.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.lincolnmemorialpark.com for the Kelley family.