Charles Edward Kelly

1949 - 2008

Charles Edward Kelly was born on July 13, 1949, in San Antonio, Texas. The family moved to Bozeman, where he attended second grade at Emerson school until moving to a ranch near Cameron, Mont.

Charles attended school in Ennis until sophomore year. He graduated from St. Johns Military Academy in Wisconsin, after which he went on to college at Montana State University, where he obtained a bachelor's degree 1971.

He earned his master's and Ph.D. in clinical psychology at the California School of Professional Psychology, Berkeley, Calif. He performed a two-year internship at the Pyramid Alternatives in Pacifica, Calif., and proceeded to establish a private practice in Walnut Creek, Calif., in 1980.

He continued in his private practice until 1990, at which time he returned to Bozeman and established a private practice, which he continued until present. In 1999 he was nominated as a diplomat of the American Board of the Psychological Specialties in Clinical Psychology for the American College of Forensic Examiners. During that time, he served on the board of directors of the Montana Friends of Jung.

Charles started a dream group in 1992 consisting of local psychological practitioners and professionals that continued to the present. He served with the CAP program locally from the mid 1990s to the present. He served as the president of the Montana Psychological Association from 2004-2006.

The main element of Charles' practice was working with children. All who knew Charles developed a deep respect for his ability to work with children.

In his younger years, Charles was a member of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association participating in the roping events. He also attended school at MSU on a skiing scholarship. As a result of his skiing success at MSU, he was selected to serve as a skiing instructor in Switzerland.

While in Europe he was filmed as a stunt man for the movie "Snow Job" with Jean-Claude Killy. He was an outstanding athlete and excelled in numerous athletic activities throughout his life, including the rodeo arena, golf and world-class skiing

Growing up on the Upper Wall Creek Ranch, Charles developed an intense identification and relationship with the environment and physical elements of the ranch. He spent a great deal of time not only working, but also exploring all of the areas, which led to a strong identification of the spiritual relationships abundant in that environment.

He used that experience throughout his life as a source of therapeutic stress relief and support for important decision-making. No one that new Charles and his special relationship with that environment could ever think of them separately, as they were one.

Charles is survived by his loving wife of 23 years, Amelia C. Kelly, and two adoring children, Jocelyn A. Kelly and Geneva S. Kelly, all of whom reside in Bozeman. Also, he is also survived by his parents, Andrew and Susanna Kelly, who live on a ranch in Cameron, Mont.; a brother, Andrew Kelly Jr. and his wife Sue; his nephews, Nick and Ryan; his nieces, Elizabeth and Annie of Atlanta, Ga.; and his sister, Suzie Kelly, who resides in Bozeman.

Additionally, he is survived by numerous close friends that comprise a large extended family. Charles will be greatly missed by family and friends as well as by every person that ever met him and was touched by his kindness and humility.

Cremation will take place on Monday, April 7. A public memorial service is scheduled for 3 p.m. Friday, April 11, at Dokken-Nelson Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Bozeman Deaconess Hospice or the Bozeman Symphony.

A private celebration of his life will take place on his family's ranch in Cameron this summer.