Corvallis resident Joey “Joe” Kelly passed away due to cancer the night of his 68th birthday, April 11, 2024, surrounded by loved ones. He was born April 11th, 1956 in Manchester, Iowa to Delores Kelly. He grew up in Fayette, Iowa, and graduated in 1975 and later that year joined the U.S. Navy, and was stationed as a Machinist Mate, on the USS Orleck. He was stationed in Washington State where he met and married his wife of 40 years, Wendy Klein, on July 16th, 1983.
The couple moved to Buckley, Washington, where they raised three children, Joshua Kelly, Sarah Novotny, and Allison Walker. Joe lived a fulfilled life, never a dull moment, and never stopped moving. Even when he slept his brain was thinking.
Joe worked at the White River School District as a Maintenance Technician for 33 years of his life. Joe retired in 2017, along with his wife Wendy. They moved to Montana’s Bitterroot Valley that year, and it was his lifelong dream. Joe also worked at the Bitterroot Brewery in Hamilton, Montana. He was retired, but he could never stop working completely.
Joe loved to fly fish, tie flies, hunt, work on anything that ran, mow his lawn, and most importantly love his kids and grandkids. One of his highest moments in life was on a Monday, December 13th, 2021, when he shot his first bull elk in his life at the age of 65. Joe took great pleasure in family, friends, Montana scenery, and his knowledge of which he has gained in his lifetime. He loved to pass down his knowledge to anyone who would listen to it, and anyone who would take it into their own hands and pass it down generation by generation.
Preceded in death by his mother, Delores Kelly, his brother James Lee, and grandmother Leona Lee, father-in-law David Klein, and his brother-in-law Russ Klein.
Joe is survived by his forever loving wife Wendy Kelly; his three kids, Joshua (Kelsey) Kelly of Jacksboro, Tennessee, Sarah (Steve) Novotny of Ellensburg, Washington, and Allison (Nick Jackson) Walker of Manville, Wyoming; his grandchildren Emily Kelly, Isaac Roseveare, Domenic Piccolo, Chael Novotny, Adalynn Kelly, and Olivia Kelly; his brother Ron (Jeannette) Kelly; his sisters Connie (Rick) Cole, and Cindy (Dale) Olsen; brother-in-law Eric (Danielle) Klein, mother-in-law Joan (Dick) Johnson; numerous nieces and nephews.
