William Grant Kelley

William Grant Kelley, Lansing, MI died March 31, 2022. at Colonial Park Adult Foster Care in Grand Ledge. Born February 24, 1948 in Huntington, Indiana. Mr. Kelley was a graduate of J.W. Sexton High School and Lansing Community College. He was a Veteran of the Vietnam War with service in the U. S. Army in Korea. Bill moved to the Atlanta,Georgia area and started his own company "Advertising Design Services" in Smyrna. He also was employed by Home Depot and Creative Services Inc. in Atlanta. He designed the Cover and illustrated the book "Michigan Cooking and Other Things" which was published by Carole Eberly and the Eberly Press. Bill was a member of the Soaring Society of America, the Atlanta Soaring Club, and Friends of Bok Tower Gardens. He had a Private Pilot License and a Sporting License. He liked to build model planes and model cars, and he won a "First Place Junior Award" in a Model Car Contest. He also liked skydiving, motorcycle racing, skiing, playing golf, flying model planes and sailplanes. Soaring in Sailplanes was his favorite way to fly! He and his father, Thomas A. Kelley, owned a Ventus Sailplane which they kept in a hangar at the Ionia, MI Airport. Bill designed the beautiful trim on the plane, and he kept a picture of Tom flying the Ventus where he could always see it. Bill and Tom both loved nature, and they spent many hours together camping, hunting and fishing in Northern Michigan. He took many trips with his friends, across the United States and throughout Michigan. He also travelled to Alaska and Switzerland. He was a loyal fan of the Atlanta Braves, especially their Pitcher, John Smoltz, from Lansing. His favorite sports teams were the Michigan State Spartans. He watched all of their games on TV, wearing Green and White! Bill and his Mother celebrated Christmas in Orlando, when MSU played Boston College at the Citrus Bowl. Bill spent every Christmas in Florida with his Mother at South Shore Resort. They have many good friends in the Lake Wales area, and they have a Duo Membership in Bok Tower Gardens. Bill returned in April to load her car and drive her home to Lansing.

In the Spring of 2016 the doctors decided that Bill should no longer live alone because of his Parkinson's disease. He sold his home in Smyrna and moved to be with his Mother in Lansing. His Smyrna friends sent a message that Bill was a great neighbor and friend. He was a blessing to everyone in the neighborhood. He took care of them whenever and however they needed him. They miss him dearly and will keep him in their hearts forever.

His good friends in Michigan added safety bars and railings, and did everything they could to make the house as safe as possible for Bill. Our neighbor, who is a nurse, did a lot to help him! Nurses are wonderful -- I don't know how we could survive without them.! He enjoyed getting together with his old friends, and going out to dinner often. They really appreciated the Veterans' Day Special Dinners! Bill did everything he could to help with all of the necessary repairs and maintenance of the house and yard.

He had a bad fall in November, 2020 and was in and out of hospitals and nursing homes, with NO visitation until spring of 2021. We were very happy that he could move into Colonial Park last June.. The staff there are wonderful and they treat everyone like a member of their family. He also received special care from Mid Michigan Home Health and Hospice.

Bill was preceded in death by his Father, Thomas A. Kelley. Surviving are his Mother, Marjorie E. Kelley, his Uncle Edward Menzel and his Aunt Eileen Menzel of Tewksbury, Massachusetts. He also has several cousins in Massachusetts.

A Memorial Celebration of Life Service will be held on Friday, May 6 at 1:00 PM at Gorsline Runciman Lansing Chapel at 900 East Michigan Ave., in Lansing. A luncheon will follow the service.

Donations can be made to Colonial Park Adult Foster Care in Grand Ledge.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.grlansing.com for the Kelley family.