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Ronald Lee Kelley Ron Lee Kelley passed away June 26, 2014 in his home at the age of 73. Ron was born November 23, 1940 in Willamina, Oregon. Ron was the second born to Merlin "Buck" Garman and Lorraine Ester Nelson. Ron spent his younger years in Oregon, the state he loved. His family moved to California in 1950. They lived in Klamath and then in Orick, where he went to school in the "Little Red School House" and always pointed this out to his children when passing through. His family then moved to Crescent City where he finished school. While in school he played football and was on the wrestling team. Ron loved a challenge: "Daredevil", and did a lot of motorcycle and car racing in his early adult life. He was a natural born mechanical genius -rebuilding motors and doing body work on cars and cycles. This was a lifelong passion: fixing, selling and trading. When trading he always came out on top and a couple of the cars he owned were in Hot Rod Magazines. He loved to swim, water ski, and abalone dive, fish, clam dig and, in general, he loved the outdoors. He taught his family to enjoy the outdoors too. He also enjoyed cooking and had special recipes he taught to his children and granddaughters. He was a fan of Western movies and liked to watch sports. He was a great chess player and loved to play games with his nephew Marty who gave him a "run for his money". Dad and mom met in high school and married shortly there after in 1959. Dad always said, "I chased mom till she caught me!" They have 3 children: Rhonda, Shorty and Kerry. Dad loved the family get-togethers at our home. He loved all the food Mom put together for these gatherings. Dad will always hold a special place in our hearts for all the fun and adventures he took us on. He was always there for us. And he always had time for us. He taught us to be independent. He always kept his word and was always on time and never reneged on a promise. Dad was a teenager when he started working for his Father-in-Law in the logging industry. From there he went into road construction and worked on the "Oregon Tunnel" from start to finish. When he traveled through it, Dad would honk the horn and we kids would yell all the way to the other side. He then joined the Operating Engineers as a Heavy Equipment Operator. He later became self-employed. He loved driving his truck. He was always the first one on the job, having his coffee and waiting to get the first load. When he got home from work he would wash his truck, check the oil, tires and ready it for the next day. Mom was his book keeper and kept his books up so they were ready for tax time. Dad was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in 1986. What a blow that was to all of us, but he never complained about his illness. He made the best of it. Ron is survived by his wife of 55 years Margie and daughter Rhonda and her husband Marc Malfatti and daughter Kerry McIntyre of Eureka, granddaughters Kelley Pomeroy of Eureka, Kristina Pomeroy of Chico, Amanda McIntyre of the US Army (stationed in Quatar), and grandson Daniel Teasley of Fortuna, his brother and sister Brad and Beverly Kitchen of Washington, Leoda Scott, Winton Garman, Jack Garman of Oregon, sister-in-Law Charlotte and husband Jim Parr of Sacramento, sister-in-law Marsha Kelley of Fortuna and his dearest, life long best friend and partner in adventure and brother-in-law Bob Potter. He is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews, whom he adored, all of you were very special to him. Please know that. Ron was preceded in death by his brother Bill Garman, parents Lorraine and stepfather Noland Kelley, nephew Marty Kelley, brother Harold Kelley, son-in-law Bill Pomeroy and his look-a-like son Shorty, who will meet his dad and bring him up to heaven with him. Special thanks to Dr. Olsgard for getting us through this ordeal for the past 29 years. Thank you to Paul McGhaughy for the care you provided, always being here when we needed you and being so kind to him. Thank you to Scotty from Hospice. Your knowledge, caring and weekly visits gave us the strength to take care of Ron and get through another week. Thank you to Rafael and Edgar of Hospice for your gentleness and making Ron feel comfortable in such an uncomfortable situation. Your kindness was noticed by all of us. And thank you to Larona Farnum for your understanding heart and the meals you provided for the family. Please sign the guestbook at www.times-standard.com and click on obits.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
4 Entries
Ron was a great guy. I remember when he bought that old corvette convertible in Redding and we were driving it in a hailstorm with no top. See ya on the other side buddy....
Gary Davis
September 4, 2014
I feel truly blessed to have known this man and to have been a part of the Kelley family. May your sweet memories bring you peace.
Becky Dimmick
September 1, 2014
We were sorry to hear of Ron's passing, We will keep the Family in our Prayers. May the Lord give you Strength for the Day.
John & Janine Cox
August 31, 2014
Our Prayer are with the family.A Great Friend we moved away a few years ago but my sister Kay Baker always told us how he was.So Sorry For Your Lost.
Ron Norris
August 31, 2014
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