Kelly M. Hilton

The moments are all right there, in faded color photos, moments of a life lived to the fullest. Kelly Michael Hilton loved photography, loved preserving what he cherished most, the fond memories he shared with his beloved family. Kelly was a wonderful man, a loving husband, father, and grandfather, a son, a brother and friend. He was taken too soon, but his life was a gift to all who knew him. Kellys story began on a hot summer day in 1958, as the fireworks were readied in Muskegon, Michigan. Those were such turbulent times in this country, which battled the Cold War, the Space Race, and racial strife here at home, with the integration of the schools. On July 2, 1958, Michael and Norma (Wagner) Hilton celebrated the birth of a baby boy at Hackley Hospital, a son they named Kelly. Kellys little brother Jeff joined the family three years later, completing their happy home in Muskegon. His mom worked as a nurse with the Muskegon Health Department, while Kellys dad was a schoolteacher and owner of Hilton Photo. Naturally, a lifelong passion for photography developed in Kelly. Kelly had other interests, as well, and was a true outdoorsman from an early age. He became very active in the Boy Scouts, working his way up through the ranks to one day attain the lofty ranking of Eagle Scout, when he was 18. He earned a certificate with President Gerald R. Fords signature upon it for all his hard work. Kelly was a bright student, too, and attended Laketon Junior High School, before heading off to Muskegon Reeths-Puffer High. After he graduated in 1977, the Eagle Scout began attending the Rochester Institute of Technology, majoring in Photography. He also began working at Muskegons Radium Photo, learning everything he could about his passion. Kelly packed as much as he could into his summers, always one to live life to the fullest. In 1977, he embarked on a memorable trip on his motorcycle to the Rocky Mountains, visiting many places around the country in the process. Kelly always loved camping, hiking, and traveling, and experiencing new things. One day some mutual friends introduced Kelly to a wonderful young woman named Cheryl Venne, and the sparks flew between them. It was love at first sight for Kelly, and Cheryl was also taken with the tall, skinny guy with the big, brown eyes and the worn baseball hat. They shared much in common, and had the same love for living life to the fullest, and quickly began dating. Cheryl even began working at Radium with Kelly for awhile, too. After a year and a half courtship, the happy couple was married, on November 22, 1985, beginning a beautiful life together. The newlyweds bought a house at 1456 Park Street in Muskegon, and they continued working at Radium side-by-side, too. In 1981, Kelly graduated with his Bachelors degree in Photography, but he had an even bigger accomplishment that year: he became a father. Kelly celebrated the birth of his first child, his son Hung, in 1981, and he was such a proud parent. The couple rounded out their happy family in 1987, with the birth of their son Michael. In 1988, the family moved to a bigger, beautiful home at 3325 Fenner Road in Laketon Township, where they raised their boys, and where Kelly would live the rest of his days. Kelly and Cheryl were wonderful parents, and Kelly loved being a doting dad to his son, just as his dad was to him. Kelly was involved coaching their soccer teams, and served as their Boy Scout Troop Leader, too, from 1996-2004. They did much together as a family, too, especially visiting their Grandma Hiltons cottage on Campbell Lake in the summertime. Every other winter, theyd visit Grandma in Florida, too. Kelly was always exceptionally close to his parents. In 1992, Kelly left Radium, starting his own business, called Hilton Photography. He worked hard, but for Kelly, it was truly a labor of love, and it also afforded him the flexible schedule to pursue all his many interests. Kelly was truly a man of many passions. He loved to cook, and to read (especially Star Trek books, as a true fan), and to travel. He loved going up to the casino in Manistee with Cheryl, and they took trips to Las Vegas to celebrate their 10th and 20th anniversaries, too. Kelly loved working at Michigan Adventure amusement park for three summers, as well. He loved playing with his beloved best friend, his dog Sparky, who served as Kellys shadow for 13 years. Most of all, Kelly loved spending time with his family. He was exceptionally close with his sons, and when his two grandchildren, Tobyn and Trinity, arrived, he couldnt have been more thrilled. Kelly loved to chase the kids around the house, playing Monster Kelly, or giving them horseback rides. The grandkids called him Papa. Kelly was also very close with his papa, and in 2005, with his dad in failing health, Kelly went back to school to earn his C.N.A. certification, so he could lovingly care for his father at his home. That was Kelly, though, so loving and selfless, always thinking of others. Kelly was many things, honest and reasonable, artistic and intelligent, a hard worker and an easygoing man. In late February of 2008, Kelly suddenly took ill. So sadly, Kellys health quickly deteriorated, and he died on Tuesday, March 4, 2008, at the age of 49. Kelly was a wonderful man, who lived a wonderful life, a life so full of family, fun and fond memories. Kelly made so many great memories, preserved in the photos he took so beautifully, memories of a life lived to its fullest. He was a loving son, brother, husband, father and grandfather, but most of all, Kelly was a gift to all who knew him. He will be so greatly missed. Kelly is survived by his wife, Cheryl; 2 sons, Hung (Dawn) Hilton of Hesperia & Michael Hilton of Muskegon; 2 grandchildren, Tobyn & Trinity; parents, Michael Hilton of Muskegon & Norma Hilton of Alabama; 1 brother, Jeff (Patti) Hilton of Muskegon. Services are scheduled for Friday, March 7, 2008, 1:00 PM at Clock Chapel with Rev. Ken Shady officiating. Visitation is Friday, 1 hour prior to the service at Clock Life Story Funeral Home. Please visit Kellys Memory Page at www.lifestorynet.com to share a memory or photo of him, or to sign the online guestbook.