Peter J. Kelly

Peter J. Kelly died peacefully on September 26, 2025 with his wife by his side. Peter was born on August 5, 1934 in Utica, New York, the son of John E. and Jane E. (Dundon) Kelly. He graduated from New Hartford NY High School in 1952 and received his BS in Industrial Management from Utica College of Syracuse University in 1956. Peter spent most of his life working in Human Resources and Manufacturing Management in Utica, Ogdensburg, Herkimer and Watertown, New York. In 1979 he became Vice President-Manufacturing at Alcor Inc. in San Antonio, Texas. He moved to Oregon in 1988 to work for the City of Portland, lived several years in Waldport, and moved to Corvallis in June 2013. He is survived by his beloved wife of nearly 42 years, Sharon, the most wonderful wife a man could possibly be blessed with, and his ten children: Tom and his wife Pam; Kathy; Susan; Michael; Peter and his wife Rhonda; Chris Feller; Kevin and his wife Cindy; Ann; Clancy and his wife Shizue; Megan and her husband Joe; step-daughter Cathy; 22 grandchildren and 23 great-grandchildren, with another expected in December. Peter was pre-deceased by his sister Doris M. Kropp in 1992, his brother Robert E. (Bob) in 2015, brother Jack who died in infancy, and grandchildren Kerby Kelly in 1983 and Lance Kelly in 1985. Peter was a frequent blood donor and over his lifetime he donated 235 pints. He believed that donating blood was a response to Jesus' words "No one has greater love than this, to lay down one's life (your blood) for one's friends." [John 15:13]. After he retired, he volunteered as an interpreter at the Oregon Coast Aquarium, as a Reading Buddy at Waldport Crestview Heights School, and served on the Principal's Site Council, with the Oregon State Police Patrol, the Waldport Citizens Patrol, and Meals on Wheels. Peter served as an elected member of the Waldport City Council from 2005 – 2013 and was a member of the Oregon Coast Community College Board of Education. In Corvallis, Peter was a driver for Dial-a-Bus and a Registration and Canteen volunteer at Red Cross blood drives. Peter was a man of deep faith and prayer. He served several churches as a eucharistic minister and lector and was honored to bring communion to homebound parishioners. One of his daily prayers was: "Lord, help me to leave the mark of your presence on all my conversations, encounters and relationships. Enable me to contribute to the lives of others." And he certainly did.