Ronald Arthur Kelsey

Ronald "Tuffy" Arthur Kelsey was born in July 1945 to Emily Cooper and Ronald C. Kelsey, and died Tuesday, Sept. 14, 2010. He grew up with his siblings, Roger and Laloni in the Bay area. As a small child, he had a dog and chickens and was always helping his father. His father operated a charter bus service and Tuffy started his mechanical career testing batteries and fluid levels. Tuffy was always a proficient mechanic while he was in Acalanes High School. He earned a one-year scholarship to Contra Costa College, where he studied welding and competed in wrestling. He then transferred to Humboldt State for four years of study, where he was awarded his teaching credential. He taught at Humboldt for a year. He had been hired by Lucia Mar Unified School District in 1971 and pulled into Grover City driving that green truck of his. He taught auto shop for about four years. In 1975, he started work at Buzz Johnson''s in San Luis Obispo. As the ''new guy,'' he started on motor homes, which is where he got his start. In no time at all, his talents showed through and he quickly was promoted to manager. While at Johnson''s, he developed a race team, where his race car, Good Ol'' 53, was born. He ran the race car under Johnson''s sponsorship until 1980. Tuffy worked at Johnson''s through 1981, when they went out of business. In 1982,Tuffy''s Automotive was born at the Brisco yard. Prior to this grand event, Tuffy had been working out of his garage on 13th St. in Grover Beach. In the late 1960s, Tuffy Met Judy Leeman, and together they raised her son, Aaron Young. In 1983, Tuffy and Judy parted, friends, then in 1989, Tuffy vowed his commitment with the love of his life, Sherry Turton. Tuffy always had friends he was helping or they were helping him. The yard became a second home and an important gathering place for many. Tuffy was meticulous and always cautious about checking and double checking everything. He did this, both out of the love for what he did and out of the sincere desire to complete each task safely. Along the way, Tuffy touched many lives with his sincere desire to be helpful. He was generous to a fault, and will be missed and remembered by many. Besides his wife, Sherry, Tuffy is survived by stepson, John; brother, Roger; sister, Laloni; and sister-in-law, Sue. A service will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 23, 2010, at the First Presybterian Church, 1830 Farroll Road in Grover Beach.