Donald Rex Kelly

Donald Rex Kelly,

Ever so often, a unique individual steps into our lives and our world is changed forever. Donald

Rex Kelly was just such a person.

Don died on Wednesday, May 20th, but his presence over the past 70 years profoundly shaped

the way the world was seen and experienced by those who knew him. There was no “us vs.

them,” no deserving or undeserving, no worthy or unworthy. Every person who entered Don’s

world was deserving of respect and courtesy. That attitude was contagious.

From the moment he became a nurse’s aid as a teenager to the waning moments of his stellar

career as a physician’s assistant, Don’s primary goal, his mission, was to alleviate pain, solve

problems, and celebrate the achievement of others. Whether it was repairing someone’s car,

driving cattle to pasture, sewing up a wound, or giving time-tested advice, turning away those

needing help simply wasn’t an option. He was always there, always willing to help, always freely

giving of his time and energy.

No where do we see this more plainly than when he became the father of a blended family. He

was careful never to divide his six children into “step” children and “biological” children. That

made him into an exceptional father to all of his children. There were setbacks and difficult

challenges, to be sure, and his problem-solving skills were often tested by his children, but his

love was persistent and nothing gave him greater pleasure than helping his kids succeed.

Don was born on December 17, 1955 in Hico, Texas, the second son of Ruth and Cecil Kelly.

He was a fourth generation Texan which means he could be hard-headed, stubborn, and

fiercely independent. These traits served him well through the years giving him a single-minded

sense of purpose.

In 1974, Don married Elizabeth Nyhouse and together they had two children, Rhiannon and

Jared. Though they eventually divorced, they remained close friends as they shared their

parenting responsibilities.

On August 19, 1995, Don married Cathy Chalgren and eagerly accepted the role of father to

Cathy’s three children. Blended families always come with certain challenges, but Don chose to

see those challenges as opportunities to create something special and enduring. His positive

attitude and persistent concern for all the members of the family did indeed create something

wonderful – an iron-clad bond between members of the family that remains to this day. A symbol

of that bond came with the birth of Laura, part Don, part Cathy, unique and beautiful.

Don is survived by his wife Cathy, his six children – Rhiannon (Sean), Jared (Naudolla),

Courtney (Noah), Christopher (Darian), Nick (Christina), Laura (Tanner), and 8 grandchildren

(Kaylin, Ayla, Adalyn, Devlin, Liam, Mason, Sophia, Blaire). He is also survived by his mother,

Ruth Kelly, his brother, Paul Kelly, and his sister-in-law, Sandy Schlesselman. He is

predeceased by his father, Cecil Kelly, and his sister, Patricia Schoonover.

Donald R Kelly made a major impact on our world with his healing presence and his distinctive

ability to create the world anew through problem-solving and the alleviation of pain and sorrow.

It was a privilege to know him, and of course, our lives will never be the same.

A celebration of Don’s life will be held in the near future.