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Donald E. Kelly

Oakland Press October 26, 1991…..Memorial Obituary

KELLY, Donald E. of Waterford, October 25, 1991; age 64; husband of Betty; father of Jeanne, Aaron and his wife Diane, Ryan and his wife Maria, Hilary, Jonathan and Blythe; also survived by 8 grandsons and two granddaughters; brother of Dorothy Kelly, Earl Kelly, Marguerite de-Ryke, F. Robert Kelly and Ruth Wernette. Mr. Kelly was employed as a teacher and coach for the 36 years in the Pontiac School System and has been actively involved in the Northern Oakland County Boys and Girls Scouts. He has also been actively involved as a member of Our Lady of the Lakes Catholic Church, Waterford. Mass of the Resurrection Monday 11 A.M. Our Lady of the Lakes Catholic Church internment all Saints Cemetery. Rosary service Sunday 7:30 P.M. at the Lewis E. Wint & Sons, Trust 100 Funeral Home, Clarkston, where friends may visit Saturday 7-9 P.M. Memorial may be made to Canbrook Hospice of National ALS Foundation.


Additional Information:

Ryan Kelly wrote:

Dad coached his entire career at Pontiac's Washington Junior High School. He coached 8th and 9th graders in basketball, football, track and wrestling. He also taught physical education, English and Math (as well as sexual education). Unfortunately, the school has been closed several years. You may not know that dad died one year before being eligible for retirement at age 64 with 34 years of service in the Pontiac school. Because he was so loved by the administration, they kept him on payroll for an entire year, using his sick time up until his 65th birthday. That was quite a show of respect and helped my mom a great deal.

Kelly Diamond Wernette wrote a seperate obitiuary that included information about Don's remarkable life in Sports:
KELLY, Donald E., age 66, of Waterford, formerly of Flint, died October 25, 1991. He was born and raised in Flint, Michigan and graduated from Flint Northern High School, where he was selected All State basketball player for 2 consecutive years.

Don was a star athlete on the Flint Junior College basketball team leading the league in scoring with 21 points per game average and taking them to the sweet 16 for the very first time. He also holds the Central Michigan University single game rebounding record of 26 rebounds per game and lead CMU in rebounding for two consecutive years (now tied with several players). He also starred in the Finch Field House inaugural game against the University of Michigan which CMU won. Don was both the leading rebounder and scorer in that game. Don served two tours of duty in the Army, one in the World War II era and one in the Korean War era. He always said he was honored to serve his county and joked about teaching the Japanese how to play baseball.

On June 12th 1948 Don married Betty J. Failing in Flint, Michigan. Betty was the love of Don’s life for 43 years. The couple adopted and raised 6 children. Don graduated from Central Michigan in 1954 with a teaching degree. He took a job after graduation teaching at Pontiac’s Washington Junior High School. Don was employed as a school teacher and coach there for 39 years. He coached basketball, football, wrestling, soccer and track. He also taught gym class. Don was recently (2011) inducted into the Flint Sports Hall of Fame with his team for his excellence as a basketball player at Flint Junior College.

Don was an extraordinary family man who is remembered by all the members of the Kelly family for his Thanksgiving Day get together at his house in Waterford Mi. Every Kelly from far or near came to enjoy Betty’s Thanksgiving Day dinner and an afternoon of fun, games, and football. This was of course followed by an afternoon viewing of the Detroit Lions turkey day football game.

Don was preceded in death by brother James L. Kelly of Flint, survived by his wife of 43 years, Betty J Kelly (Failing); 3 sons, Aaron of Schaumburg, Illinois, Ryan of Green Oak, Mi.; and Jonathan of Ellsworth, Mi.: 3 daughters, Jean Kelly of Brighton, Hillary Kelly of Jacksonville, NC.; and Blyth Kelly of Brighton,Mi.;.3 sisters, Dorothy Kelly of Flint, Mi., Marguerite DeRyk of Tarzana, California,; and Ruth Wernette of Lake Havasu City, Az.,; 2 brothers, Earl Kelly of Kettering, Ohio, and Robert Kelly of Flushing, Mi., and numerous nieces, nephews, and grand children.

Submitted by: Kelly Wernette, April 2012

 



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