Robert Patrick "Pat" Kelly

Robert Patrick "Pat" Kelly, age 68, passed away peacefully at home and went to be with Jesus Christ, his Lord and Savior on Tuesday, November 9, 2010, after a courageous battle with cancer, surrounded by his loving family and friends. He was born September 7, 1942 in Erie, son of the late Derwood and Beatrice Pildner Kelly.

Pat was a graduate of Fort LeBoeuf High School.

From humble beginnings on a farm milking cows and delivering milk at the crack of dawn, Pat was quick to embrace technology and could always be found with the latest digital camera, laptop computer and smart phone. In 1965 he founded Kelly Erectors, Inc., a steel erection company that continues to serve the outdoor advertising industry throughout the Eastern United States. Pat was mechanically gifted and could solve most problems with steel and concrete.

Pat had a number of hobbies that allowed him to live to the fullest, including racing street and dirt bikes, snowmobiling, target shooting and skiing. He was also an avid supporter of the Waterford 4H clubs and could always be found around the Waterford Fair livestock auctions angling for the Grand Champion.

A dyed-in-the-wool Irishman, he considered himself fortunate to be able to make several trips back to the motherland, with his wife and youngest sons.

Pat actively lived out his faith in God. He displayed his two favorite scriptures on his equipment (John 14:6 and Proverbs 3:5-6). Pat was part of a missionary trip to Burkina Faso, Africa in 1994, to help build a church. He donated his time, equipment, and supplies to the National Teen Challenge Training Center in Rehrersburg, Pa. Pat was a founding member of ReaLife Assembly of God in Erie.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his nephew, Kevin Kelly.

Pat is survived by his wife of 36 years, Lois Ann Kelly, whom he married on March 15, 1974; his stepfather, Joseph Hugger of Erie; two brothers, Gale Kelly (Mary) of Erie, Dennis Kelly (Kathy) of Prattsville, Ala.; one sister, Anita Lemon (Dan) of Erie; eight children, Kolleen Sweeney (Shannon) of Erie, Holly Jo Kelly-Esparza (Jerry) of Scottsdale, Ariz., Laura Meehl (Darren) of North East, Laurence Niles (Karin) of Catonsville, Md., Lisa Bonds (Thomas) of Kent, Ohio, Jennifer Lawson-Kelly (Joe), Jeremy Ryan Kelly (Lynn) and Joshua Patrick Kelly (Kara), all of Erie; 15 grandchildren, who loved their Papa very much, and several nieces and nephews.

We hope Heaven enjoys his grilled Prime Rib and baked beans as much as we all did. Pat will be greatly missed by his family and friends. We love you Dad!

Friends may call at Dusckas Funeral Home, on Thursday from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. and Friday from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Further visitation will be on Saturday at ReaLife Assembly of God, 3902 W. 38th St. from 10:00 a.m. until the time of the Funeral Service there at 11:00 a.m., conducted by Rev. James Grove.

Interment, Wintergreen Gorge Cemetery.

Published in the Erie Times-News on November 11, 2010.