Gerald Kelly

Gerald “Jerry” Kelly, 76, died unexpectedly at his home on Dec. 20, 2021. Jerry was born on May 9, 1945 in Louisiana, Mo. to Ollie and Martha (Carroll) Kelly.

After graduating from high school in Clarkston, Ky. in 1963, he joined the navy and served in Vietnam.

He married his wife Lynne on Jan. 8, 1982 and worked for many years as a mail carrier for the U.S. Postal Service in Bothell, Wash. After his retirement from the post office, he and Lynne moved to Ritzville in the late 1990s. He subsequently worked for several years as a long-haul truck driver, and most recently as a rural route mail carrier in the Washtucna area.

Jerry was a lay minister who always took advantage of the opportunities presented to him to serve others and to be a witness for his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Over the years, he was active serving as a prison chaplain, leading Bible studies, etc. He was a member of Lind Calvary Assembly of God and active in The Collective Adventure ministry in Ritzville.

He was also a sports fan, particularly of the Seattle Seahawks and Kentucky Wildcats.

He is preceded in death by his parents and twin brother Eugene who died at birth. He is survived by his wife Lynne, brother Bill Kelly of Ky., sons Michael Kelly of Mass., Tom Miller of Seattle, and stepson Kenneth Stoops of Toppenish. He is also survived by grandchildren Kenneth Stoops II of Othello and Kristen Stoops of Ritzville, as well as great- grandchildren Brint Stoops and Layne Stoops.

A military burial service will be held at the Washington State Veterans Cemetery in Medical Lake on Monday, May 9, at 11:00 a.m.