Alan Louis Kelley

Alan L. Kelley, age 80, died February 18, 2018 at his family home in Enumclaw, Washington from cancer.  Alan was a beautiful soul who loved his family very much and the feeling was mutual.  He will be missed terribly.  He lived his life in service to his family, including his wife and love of his life, Linda Kelley; his two sons, Alan Jr. and his wife Kim and Michael and his wife Suzanne; his grandchildren, Sarah, Bradley, Austin, Liam, and Madden; his great grandchildren, Greyson, Everett, and Wells; and his siblings Lee Ellen and George.  He was predeceased by his parents George (“Red”) and Juanita Kelley.

Alan was born on Thanksgiving Day at Stanford University Hospital in 1937.  Alan spent his elementary school years as a Navy brat, moving from Moffett Field in the Bay Area, to Miramar Naval Air Station in San Diego, and then to the US Naval Air Base in Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands.  Alan loved his time in Saipan, which he described as a tropical paradise with warm ocean water and cool offshore breezes where a little kid could do just about anything he wanted, including exploring the wrecked military equipment, like landing craft and tanks, left over from the war.     

At the age of 10, Alan moved to the Kelley Family home at Turkey Creek, outside of Bishopville, South Carolina, a home built by Captain Wiley O’Kelly in the early 1800’s which survived the Civil War.  At the age of 12, his family moved to Oak Harbor, Washington where Alan joined the Boy Scouts and later started high school.  At 16, another posting found Alan and his mother back at Turkey Creek where he started his junior year at Bishopville High.  After high school, he enrolled at the University of South Carolina. 

Alan enlisted in the U.S. Navy, was called to active duty in 1957, and was sent to the Fallon Naval Air Station in Fallon, Nevada.  After two years of active duty, he was released and moved to Seattle, where his parents retired.  Alan hired on at Boeing in 1959 which allowed him to purchase a 1957 Austin Healy.

Alan began dating Linda after an introduction by a neighbor.  They married in the evening of January 27, 1962 at Rainer Beach Methodist Church in Seattle.  They welcomed their first son, Alan Jr., in 1963, and their second son, Michael, in 1967.  They moved to Renton, Alan built a rec room on the house, started a regular bridge game, and settled in raising a family.  Alan enjoyed renovating boats in his spare time.  Alan started upgrading his boats and enjoyed many evenings boating with Linda and cruising with the SEABACS.  After a few local moves, Alan moved the family to Federal Way.

During his 36 years at Boeing, Alan worked on the BOMARC Program, 737 Startup Team, Hydrofoil Ships, Mobile Minuteman Program, and AWACS, retiring in 1995. 

After retirement, Alan and Linda moved to Enumclaw and enjoyed cruises and family events.  Alan enjoyed working in his detached shop, building model railroads, and attending the Washington Arms Collectors shows. 

Alan will be buried at the Tahoma National Cemetery in Kent, Washington on March 23 at 10:00 a.m.  In lieu of flowers, our family asks that memorial gifts be made to Providence Hospice of Seattle Foundation, 425 Pontius Ave. N., #300, Seattle, WA 98109, www.providencehospiceofseattle.org. 

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