Richard Patrick Kelly

Mar 26, 1951 -

Jan 7, 2026

Richard "Pat" Patrick Kelly passed away peacefully on Jan. 7, 2026, at the age of 74. He was born in St. Louis, Mo., in 1951, and graduated with a B.S. in business administration from Southeast Missouri State. Pat leaves behind a legacy of adventure, unique experiences and warm heartedness. He was a cherished husband, father, grandfather and friend.

In 1974, Pat moved to Alaska, where he had a successful career in sales with Moore Business Forms, IBM and American Fast Freight. He was always a top salesman, winning multiple contests and accumulating many friends. His greatest trophies were time spent outdoors and memories made with friends and family. Pat met his wife Carol in Anchorage, Alaska, and they married in 1979. They welcomed their son Shawn in 1982, and daughter Krista in 1986.

Pat was passionate about many things in life, including hunting, fishing, flying, skiing, golf, history, gardening and especially cooking. He would spend hours perusing recipe books, trying to find amazing dishes to create. His family will remember him for all the homemade meals around the table. He acquired his private pilot's license and float rating, and thus began many adventures with family and friends in the great wilderness of Alaska, whether it was in a cabin, tent, plane or boat.

In 2013, Pat and Carol retired to Arizona, where they would enjoy visiting their grandchildren in California, golfing with friends and family, touring with the Corvette Club and traveling abroad.

Pat will be lovingly remembered by his wife, Carol; children, Shawn and Krista (Chris); and grandchildren, Dylan, Kaia and Caelan. He is also survived by his sister, Linda (Neil); brother, Michael (Robin); and numerous extended family members and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Jack and Delores; and siblings, Susan and Dennis.

A Celebration of Pat's Life will be held on Feb. 14, 2026, at 4 p.m., at Forty Niner Country Club, 12000 E Tanque Verde Road in Tucson, Ariz. Funeral arrangements are provided by Thompson Funeral Chapel in Goodyear, Ariz. Pat leaves behind a lifetime of memories and love that will live on in all who knew him.

Memorial donations may be made to the American Heart Association, https://heart.org.

"Death leaves a heartache no one can heal, while love leaves a memory no one can steal."