ALBERT H. FELLY

ALBERT H. FELLY

Albert H. Felly, age 90, of Madison & Mineral Point, Wisconsin, and Green Valley, Arizona, peacefully completed his life's journey on Sunday, January 17, 2016, at his home in Green Valley.

Al was born in Madison, Wisconsin, on Oct. 2, 1925. He attended East High School and at age 17 enlisted in the Army Air Corps, where he served as a flight engineer on a B-29 Superfortress. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin with a Ph.B. degree in English Literature. He was a proud World War II veteran and belonged to the American Legion.

The phrase "Grow where you are planted" was perfect for Albert. Al and his first wife, Mary (Connor), opened their first flower shop on West Washington Avenue in 1949. Felly's Flowers grew to multiple locations in the Madison area and employed hundreds of people. Al was always an innovator, and in the early '70s was the first to discover and use "1-800-FLOWERS." He also developed the Underwater Flower Cutter.

Al received numerous business and humanitarian awards throughout his lifetime such as Madison Business Executive of the Year, the Madison Chamber of Commerce first Entrepreneur of the Year, and Know Your Madisonian. His proudest achievement was his induction into the Society of American Florists Hall of Fame. Al was a hard-working man and he worked side-by-side with his employees each and every day for 42 years. He was a good man who helped many. A friend told us, "He gave a lot of people opportunities and he worked at guiding people through their jobs."

Al's love of history brought him to Mineral Point, Wisconsin, where he, his family and his employees restored Welsh House, from there he created Shake Rag Alley. He restored multiple buildings on the property and designed the most beautiful gardens to walk through. Wonderful gatherings were held there.

Al belonged to many service clubs, including Madison West Optimist and Madison Central Lions and many others.

After a family vacation on the island of San Pedro, Belize, Al had a vision to build a much-needed high school on the island. He enlisted the help of local service clubs, churches and schools. He worked tirelessly to collect items for this project. This was the first high school built on the island and it was dedicated in his honor. Al begged, borrowed and bartered for the school. "Papa Felly" was so proud of this accomplishment. Today, there are over 500 students attending the school. Thus the saying, "If it's meant to be, it's up to me." He was awarded the Sertoma Award for Service to Mankind for this project. He believed, "A school is a building with tomorrow inside."

He retired in 1991 to "Stop and Smell the Roses." He traveled, bought a home in Arizona and started carving whimsical Santas, birds and birdhouses. He married Eadie Graham in 1995 at Shake Rag Alley. Together they wrote a children's book, "Santa's New Clothes," and were so happy the day it was published. He loved gifting Santas to all his favorites and they came carved and decorated as Badgers & Packers, two of his favorite teams.

Al entertained many with his great stories, and had a remarkable gift of recollection.

His memory lives on through his wife, Eadie Felly; his children, daughter Ann (Brian) Myrland; his son, Jon Felly; and Holly LaPlant Felly. "Bumpa" is cherished by his grandchildren, Courtney (Jon) Short, Taryn Felly, Jonathan "Quinn" (Jessica) Felly, Jake (Ami) Myrland, and Allie (Kris) Kiley. He was grateful to spend time with his great-grandsons, Thomas and Connor Short and Jasen and Brady Myrland. He also leaves brother and sister in laws and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Albert and Lydia; his brother, Carl; his sister, Alberta Johnson; and his first wife, Mary.

"You've got to accomplish something every day of your life; it doesn't have to be work, but it does have to be something." That, in a seed, is the way Felly walked the garden path of life.

A Memorial Service will be held at a later date in Madison, Wisconsin.

Memorials can be made to Eadie Felly for San Pedro High School: 951 S. Abrego Drive, Green Valley, AZ, 85614.