Kelly Craig Lord

Kelly Craig Lord, 34, passed away on September 12, 2022, from suicide.

This has been a very difficult obituary to write, which is in part why it has taken so long to do so. So please bear with me. I do believe that as hard as it is to write it, it is just as important that it be written. I will start with the good things first...

Kelly was a bright, beautiful, and innocent child, as we all are when we are young. He was very close with his family, and growing up, he often played with his sister, Samantha, or used his imagination while playing in the woods his family owned in New Jersey before moving to Missouri when he was ten. He by no means had a perfect childhood, and his family, like most, had their issues. As he grew up, he was a very gifted musician and played the piano like an angel. He was a hard worker and was also well versed in different martial arts in his teens. And by his early twenties, he joined the military and had a family of his own.

Kelly promoted quickly, went out for every award, and found quite a lot of success and prestige in his military career. He was fortunate to only serve two deployments during his twelve year career and both times in benign guard positions, seeing no combat. While he appeared to have it all together in his career and on the surface, beneath it all, he greatly struggled.

Unfortunately, Kelly had a life long struggle with mental illness, personality disorders, and addiction. As time went on, combined with undealt with issues from his childhood, these problems only grew worse, greatly effecting those closest to him.

Several years prior to his passing, Kelly's inner demons began to overtake him, and he became darker in his behavior and personality. Unfortunately, it is this darkness and the path it put him on that ultimately led to him taking his own life on September 12, 2022.

His passing came as a shock, and the repercussions of his choices are still being felt and probably always will.

As per his wishes, Kelly was cremated, and in a small family ceremony, his ashes were scattered.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Kimberly Gaisford Lord. His father, Jack Craig Lord survived him, but as of the time of this obituary, he has since passed.

He is also survived by his wife, Christa, daughter's Abigail and Elizabeth, his sister Samantha G Lord (Reid), his sister Joelle S Baxter (Stevan) and other extended family including aunts, uncles, cousins and nephews.

Thank you to everyone who tried their best to help Kelly in life. And thank you to everyone who has loved and supported us through unimaginable horror, we literally wouldn't be here without you.