Kathleen Kelly

Kathleen Kelly had a smile that could light up a room. She had a way about her that made others feel warm and at ease. She experienced great joy and great loss in her life, and had the ability to empathize with both. Kathy loved to give of her time and creative talents; though her greatest joy was spending time being a loving mother and doting grandmother to the family she loved so dearly. With her kind and generous heart coupled with her ever-cheerful spirit, Kathy brought light and life to those close enough to receive the gift of her warmth. The year 1948 marked a time of great change for America. With the end of World War II, thousands of young soldiers returned home to start their families. The Baby Boom was quickly underway, and Leo and Margaret (LeFevre) Kelly of Muskegon, Michigan were among the many expecting parents. The couple received an early Christmas present in 1948 with the birth of their beautiful daughter, Kathleen Louise, on December 20th, at Mercy Hospital. Kathy, as she was called, was eventually one of twelve children of which she fell just about in the middle. She was the 7th in the sibling lineup that included six brothers: Dave, Phil, Brian, Charlie, Kevin and Rick, and five sisters: Ann, Jeanne, Patty, Peggy and Louise. Kathys close-knit family lived on Washington Avenue in a home across the street from Muskegon High School. While her mother undoubtedly had her hands full as a homemaker, her father earned a living as a Purchasing Agent at Sealed Power. The family was faithful members of St. Jeans Catholic Church, and the children continued their religious training attending St. Jeans Elementary School. Kathy was also a member of the Catholic Daughters of America. With a large family, it was hard to take big expensive vacations, so the Kellys enjoyed going to a Detroit Tigers game every summer, having picnics on the north shore of Muskegon State Park and breakfast on the beach as the sun rose. Aside from being a good student, Kathy was also very athletic and excelled as a softball player. When she wasnt playing sports, she was earning some extra money, babysitting for area families and helping to make dinner for the nuns at St Jeans. In high school, Kathy proved to be quite creative and shared her creativity through art, doing calligraphy and making collages, among other projects. In her senior year at Muskegon Catholic Central, Kathy was crowned Homecoming Queen, before graduating with her class of 1967. She then attended Muskegon Community College for 2 years before transferring to Michigan State University, where she went on to graduate with a Psychology degree. Back when Kathy was still in community college, her sister, Peggy, and her boyfriend, Dennis Deubner, set her up on a double date with Dennis brother, Tim, who was home on leave from the Air Force. The two hit it off, and while Tim was serving overseas, he and Kathy continued to get to know each other through many letters. Eventually, Tim returned to the states and was stationed in Michigan so the two could pick up on their dating again. Once his military service was over, Tim and Kathy were married in September 1972. The newlyweds made their first home together in an apartment in Lansing; in fact they managed the entire apartment complex while living there. Meanwhile, Tim went back to finish his studies at Michigan State, while Kathy worked at Lansing Savings and Loan. Eventually, the couple moved to a home on Maple Hill in Ada, Michigan, where they would raise their three sons: Jason (1975), Ryan (1978) and Adam (1979). Kathy stayed home once her boys arrived, but then worked part-time as a teachers aide. Unfortunately, Kathys marriage to Tim ended in divorce in 1987. Now a single parent, Kathy had to find work to support her boys and it wasnt long before she became the Office Manager at Vant Hof Door in Grand Rapids. Later, she went to work in the Paint Department at Home Depot, where customers came to love her congenial personality and warm smile. Kathy worked hard to balance a tight budget household with raising 3 very active and sometimes challenging boys. She made sure her sons learned responsibility and the value of hard work, but most of all, that they were loved. To get away, Kathy and her boys took vacations to the shore of Delaware and an unforgettable trip to each of the 5 Great Lakes, which they called the Touch 5 Lakes adventure. Family was always the greatest source of happiness in Kathys life. She was close with her family all her life, and she was usually the one to organize their get togethers, including their annual homecoming trip to Michigan State University, the alma mater of her and 7 of her siblings. For birthdays and special events, Kathy creatively made video slide shows to share with her family, and also baked different shaped cakes depending on the event. Kathy put her heart into everything, and this was especially true when it came to being a grandmother. As the Best Grandma Ever, there wasnt anything Kathy wouldnt do for her grandkids. They played games, went for walks, had picnics and built forts to hide in. Without a second thought, Kathy would drive an hour just to see her grandkids smiling faces for 15 minutes. From one of her favorite books, Kathy would tell her grandkids she loved them to the moon and back and if by chance there was a full moon, she would call them so they could share it together. These special memories of their times together now become treasures of the heart. A couple of weeks ago, Kathy fell and broke her arm. After having surgery to repair her arm, she stayed at her son Jasons house to recover. Kathy unexpectedly collapsed and despite the best efforts of the paramedics, she died on Thursday, May 20, 2010, at the age of 61. Kathy is survived by her 3 sons: Jason (Tiffany) Deubner, Ryan (Samantha Grubbs) Deubner, both of Kalamazoo, Adam (Amber Messer) Deubner of Lansing; 6 grandchildren: Grace & Samuel Deubner, Taylar, Paige, Jaiden, Sophia; 6 brothers: Dave (Rae) Kelly of NJ, Phil (Chris) Kelly of Muskegon, Brian (Mary) Kelly of Kentwood, Charlie Kelly, Kevin Kelly, both of Muskegon, Rick (Kim) Kelly of FL; 4 sisters: Ann (June Zillman) Kelly of Muskegon, Patty MacAskill of IL, Peggy Kelly of Muskegon, Louise (Scott) McClure of Allegan, MI; many nieces, & nephews and several close friends; and former spouse, Tim (Marcia) Deubner of Hopkins, MI. She was preceded in death by her parents, sister, Jeanne, in 1971, and her brother-in-law, John MacAskill. Services will be on Wednesday, May 26, at 11:00 a.m. at St. Jean Baptist Catholic Church with Fr. Matt Barnum officiating. Visitation will be on Tuesday, May 25, from 6-8 p.m. at Clock Life Story Funeral Home - Muskegon. Please visit Kathys personal memory page at www.clockfuneralhome.com where you may share a memory or sign her online guest book.