1943 - 2018
Visitation
February 16, 20183-6P.M.
Dolan Funeral Home
Funeral
February 16, 2018Service 6P.M.
Dolan Funeral Home
Stephen DeGeorge Kelly, 74, of Nashua, NH died Sunday, February 11, 2018 at the Lahey Medical Center after several weeks of declining health.
Born in Boston, and raised in Chelmsford, he was the son of the late Stephen and Frances Kelly.
He was married for 46 years to the late Sandra (Wilkins) Kelly, who died in 2010. Together they raised their three daughters in Tyngsboro.
After a long career as a heavy equipment mechanic, with many years at Doering Equipment and CN Wood, he retired from The Fletcher Quarry in Westford.
Steve was a volunteer firefighter in Tyngsboro, retiring as the Deputy Fire Chief in the early 1980s. He was a proud member of the N.R.A., and The Westford Sportsman Club where he taught firearms safety. His passions were tractors and black powder guns and he especially enjoyed restoring old weapons. He will also be remembered for his good humor and sage advice, which was usually preceded by “You know the problem with…”
He was loved and is survived by his daughters, Colleen (Richard) Long of Jupiter, FL, Traci (Dean) Allard of Hudson, NH, and Jennifer (Dennis) Kelly-Geary of Tyngsboro. He will be greatly missed by his grandchildren, Aimee (Peter) Cullen, Abigayle Long and her partner Ali Sousa, Paul and Harry Allard, and Taylor and Grace Burgess. He was the very proud “Great Gramps” to Harper and Wyatt Cullen. Steve is also survived by his sisters-in-law Miriam Jocks and Ruth Boyce, and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his Corgi buddies, Bacon and Murphy.
The Kelly girls wish to thank Dr. Edward Walshe and the Lahey Clinic transplant team for taking such good care of Dad. They also wish to thank the family that selflessly donated their loved one’s kidney (aka “The Other Guy”) to him in 2013.
Visiting hours Friday February 16, from 3 to 6 P.M. with a service at 6 P.M. at the DOLAN FUNERAL HOME 106 MIDDLESEX ST. CHELMSFORD, MA. Burial in the Pine Ridge Cemetery, Chelmsford at a later date. Memorials may be made in his name to the Westford Sportsman Club. The family requests that all attending services to please wear a bit of green. ARRANGEMENTS BY DOLAN FUNERAL HOME 978-251-4041.
Ann Standley
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To all the Kelly girls my heartful condolences at this time. My memory will always be his quick smile and his love for good conversation..
Sincerely Ann Carr Standley
Erin Boyce
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I don’t think I ever saw your dad without a smile. He will always be one of my favorite uncles! There’s no better testament to a life well-lived, than seeing how many lives – and hearts – he touched. The “Kelly Girls” were so lucky to have had such a wonderful father! I love you all! Erin
Meike Doyle
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Jenna and family,
My deepest sympathy to you all.
Meike Doyle
Keith Flanagan
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In many ways he was like a father to me in that I could always count on his advice. We spent many hours shooting, tinkering, and working on tractors together. I know I will never engage in any of these activities without remembering him fondly. Rest easy my friend I will see you soon.
Dennis
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From more than 30 years ago, I will always remember him as generous of spirit and kind in word. His legacy is that of his children and grand-children. My sympathy is with them at this time.
Von Jocks
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I am so sorry for your loss, for the loss of everyone who loved him, which is a VERY long list. “Uncle Steve” took me and my sister Meg in for days at a time, when our family would visit Massachusetts. I remember his time as a volunteer firefighter, and will never think of above-ground pools or St. Bernard dogs without thinking of him. He was funny, and loving, and passionate in his beliefs. He will be missed.
Tyngsboro Board of Fire Engineers
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The Tyngsborough Fire Department recognizes Deputy Chief Stephen Kelly for his commitment to the town of Tyngsborough. Besides being a volunteer firefighter, Chief Kelly made the additional effort to provide twelve years of leadership between his Officer roles as Lieutenant and Deputy Chief.
Our prayers, thoughts, and appreciation go out to Chief Kelly’s family who supported him in his service.
michelle dery
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Wishing the Kelly Family our greatest sympathy at this time. Your dad was a bright light of sunshine whenever we encountered him. Quick wit and smiles all the time.
To Jenna, the Kelly daughter that we have adopted as my sister from another Mister, we love you and your family. As our children grow up together, and our other adopted sisters family has also become one of our own, we all wish your family our deepest condolences at this time. Three women with 3 departed fathers in 4 years, we love you and please never hesitate to ask for anything. Love you! ?
Love,
Michelle, Alan, Brett, and Connor
Ted and Sue Hollingworth
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To the Kelly sisters and the extended Kelly family:
Steve was,to us, an immediate and welcoming member to the Westford Sportmen’s Club and, almost as rapidly, into our mutual lives and spheres. He was an excellent source of information and “earned wisdom”, a terrific firearms instructor to the two of us and our two granddaughters, generous beyond belief, a great “adventures” and luncheon companion, and more important than all of that – a very close friend! We all loved Steve! We have all been forever blessed by Steve’s presence in our lives.