Lawrence James Kelly

Lawrence James Kelly, Sr., M.D. Grosse Pointe resident Dr. Larry Kelly, 96, passed away peacefully on Saturday, January 4, 2014 at St. John Hospital in Detroit, Michigan. Throughout his life, Dr. Kelly maintained strong traditional principles of Christian love, faith, honesty, and kindness. He valued education highly and offered unconditional support to his loved ones in their pursuit of various goals. He was born in Butte, Montana, a copper mining town, to John Joseph and Marguerite Louise Kelly. He attended the Christian Brothers High School, then at night the Butte Business College, working as a secretary for the Montana Power Company and at the family Variety Store and their Paddock Bar. He led his own dance band, playing trumpet, saxophone, and clarinet. He played football when he attended Carroll College in Helena, Montana. While he attended the University of Michigan Medical School during World War II, he was drafted into the Navy as an Apprentice Seaman. He married the love of his life, Betty, in 1947 at St. Paul on the Lake Catholic Church. He was drafted a second time, serving as a Captain in the U.S. Army Medical Corps during the Korean War, stationed in Battle Creek. He was among the first staff members of St. John Hospital. He balanced an extremely busy solo practice, delivering over 10, 000 new lives, with his family's needs. He and Betty devoted their many talents during 60 years of marriage to raising their eight children to be independent and educated. How fortunate they were to find time to travel in their 'bus' and to teach them at the Detroit Boat Club, the Grosse Pointe Yacht Club, Otsego Ski Club and various golf clubs near Juno Beach, Florida. He was highly respected, always generous, gentle, and unusually patient. Betty preceded him in death in 2008. They are survived by their children, Lawrence, Jr. (Garner), Barbara, Dr. Brian (Sheilah), Sharon, John (Val), Marilyn (Martin Grummer), Susan (Chris) Bickley, and Timothy Kelly; and their 19 grandchildren, Megan Kelly, L. Jamie Kelly, Dr. James Kelly, Eric C. Kelly, Caitlin Kelly, Margaret Kelly, Paul Stanton, Rachel Stanton, John Patrick Kelly, Eric S. Kelly, Aidan Grummer, Maxx Grummer, Dr. Daniel Bickley, Robert Bickley, Brian Bickley, Matthew Kelly, Lauren Kelly, Ethan Kelly and Andrew Kelly. Dr. Larry Kelly is also survived by his sister, Mary Lou Kelly Sullivan, niece Johnette Sullivan, nephew Timothy Sullivan, nieces Denise Cassidy Phillips and Mary Sheila Cassidy and nephew Kevin Cassidy. He was preceded in death by his brother John J. Kelly, Jr. (Jack) and his brothers-in-law Timothy Sullivan and George L. Cassidy (Helen). Private services were held January 18 at St. Paul on the Lake Catholic Church in Grosse Pointe Farms.

Funeral Home:

A. H. Peters Funeral Home of Grosse Pointe

20705 Mack Avenue

Grosse Pointe Woods, MI

US 48236