Kelly Roche

1955 - 2021

Kelly Roche
December 11, 1955 - January 7, 2021
Dallas, Texas - Kelly Patrick Roche, 65 Kelly passed away, January 7, 2021 peacefully and surrounded in spirit and love by his family and many friends. Kelly was born in Mineral Wells, Texas to Patrick and Irene Roche. Kelly grew up in Arlington, Texas and graduated from Sam Houston High School in 1974, after which, he then graduated from University of Texas Arlington in 1978.
Kelly loved to love people. He would jump in and help with anything, and he knew exactly what you needed, even if you didn't. If you asked him for a favor his answer was always, "Will do." If you needed a house sitter, pet sitter, baby sitter, shopper or chauffeur, Kelly was always the first to volunteer. All of Kelly's sitting duties earned him the nickname "MeMaw," and his beloved "nightgowns" only helped to cement that nickname.
Due to his amazing people skills and giving nature, Kelly ended up in the hospitality industry where he quickly gathered a huge network of clients, suppliers and co-workers that quickly, and sometimes immediately, became part of his life known as family and friends. Kelly loved the hospitality industry and it loved him back. In 2005, Kelly joined the Irving Convention and Visitor Bureau/Visit Irving, where he worked for the remainder of his career. Kelly was awarded the Visit Irving Sales Manager of the Year multiple times, including this last year. He served on multiple boards such as the Society of Government Meeting Professionals (SGMP), where he received various awards.
He also served on the board of Dallas/Fort Worth Humane Society, where he adopted his two cats, Gigi and Tobin, and was a lifelong Dallas Cowboys fan.
He loved and adored his mother. They spoke every day and enjoyed going to movies, plays and watching their British TV programs together. He cared for her until her passing last January.
There was nothing more important in this world than his love for his family and the times they spent together. He will be sorely missed and is survived by his brother, Kim Roche and wife Joyce; sister Keri Gentile; nieces and nephews, Jennifer Dybvig and husband Chris; Kris Roche and wife Kristin; Amanda Williams and husband Brandon; Gabriel Gentile and wife Sonya; grandnephews and grandnieces, Cole Loomer, Riley Roche, Makayla Dybvig, Reed Roche, Tinley Dybvig, Brylan Williams, Reagan Roche and Wyatt Williams; his very dear friends, Larry Cook, Clint Billings, Jan Davis, Bea Davis and Andrew and Nancy Nunan; Kelly is preceded in death by his parents Patrick and Irene Roche.
Because of his love for babies, donations in his honor can be directed to UT Southwestern Medical Center to support the NICU: P.O. Box 910888 Dallas, TX 75391-0888 or at: engage.utsouthwestern.edu
A life well lived. Until we meet again, you will live on in our hearts and memories.