Richard Kelly COLSON

COLSON Richard Kelly, 51, born Oct 13, 1959 in Tecumseh, MI to Maxine Rhodes Colson and the late Richard Dean Colson, died Friday, Nov 26, 2010. Other than his mother, he is survived by his wife, Teresa Beshear Colson; a daughter, Andrea Lancaster Shaffer (Derek), of Berea; sister, Kimberly Napier (Phillip Kenney), of Lexington; mother and father-in-law, Mae and Carter Beshear, of Somerset; nieces, Amber Powers (Will), April Napier, Deidra Hoellein (Andrew), Amber Tarter (Josh); nephew, Lucas Beshear; great-nieces and nephews, Brock, Barrett, Katelyn, Trennon, Ben, Ellary, Zachary and Thomas; uncles, Jack and Jim Colson; and a special aunt, Christine Hammond. He was also preceded in death by his brother-in-law, Michael Beshear. Kelly graduated from Somerset High School and attended Somerset Community College and Western Ky University, where he was a member of Alpha Gamma Rho. He graduated from the University of Kentucky and held degrees in banking and business administration. He served as a Sergeant in US Army in B. CO. 27th Engineer Battalion Airborne in Ft. Benning, GA, 507th Infantry at Ft. Benning, GA 27th Engineer Battalion, Ft. Bragg, NC, A. CO. 547th Combat Engineer Battalion USAREUR at Darmstadt, Germany, and the 130th Engineer Brigade during Operation Desert Storm, Kelly was passionate about many things including UK sports, travel, reading, watching Military TV, grilling, and sitting on the deck watching hummingbirds with his dog, Catfish. In the most recent years, Kelly was self-employed as a consultant to the floor covering industry. He was a member of Beacon Hill Baptist Church, Somerset, Ky. He was a member of the UK Markey Cancer Center Patient Advisory Board and actively involved with the "Light the Night" Walk as a Survivor, receiving the first "Spirit of a Champion" Award for his fundraising efforts and for being a champion at heart. He felt it was his mission to help new myeloma patients, by calling them, answering their questions, helping guide them through the maze. Kelly bravely fought a battle with Multiple Myeloma since 2003. With high spirits and positive attitude, he persevered and managed the disease, while never losing his passion for living. The family is so appreciative for the compassion, love, and determination shown by his oncologist, Dr. Dianna Howard, and the entire staff at Markey. Memorials are suggested to the UK Markey Cancer Center Patient Support Program (800 Rose Street, CC 160, Lexington, KY 40536-0093 or Leukemia/Lymphoma Light the Night at www.lightthenight.org/. Visitation will be at Kerr Brothers Funeral Home, Harrodsburg Rd. on Mon, Nov. 29, from 4-8pm. A celebration of life will be held on Sun, Dec 12, at the Riptide Restaurant from 1-4 pm.