Kenneth A. Kelley of Apollo Beach, FL, passed away at Tampa General Hospital on the morning of January 5th, 2021 at the age of 68. Born in Long Island, NY in 1952, he was preceded into heaven by his parents Arthur Edward Kelley and Veronica Mearsheimer Kelley as well as his daughter Kristen Jennifer Kelley.
Ken was a man of faith and service, dedicated to his family, and beloved by close friends and co-workers. He was a constant student, a man of many talents and interests; he loved to cook and always had a sense of humor. After attending Jesuit High School of Tampa Florida, he graduated from the University of South Florida with a degree in geology. Throughout his accomplished career, Ken’s passion for geology took him to places around Florida, Alaska, and the Middle East. He loved giving back and volunteered in many ways, including: coaching youth sports, presenting his extensive rock and fossil collection to local schools, and donating to local food drives and Nativity Church’s PB&J group. One of Ken’s favorite quotes was “No matter where you go, there you are” – Buckaroo Banzai.
In addition to his partner of 18 years, Cynthia Fleming, he is survived by his son Kenneth Jeffrey Kelley (Jacqueline) and his brother, Edward Thomas Kelley (Sue). He will be greatly missed by his 5 grandchildren Brennan, Jakoby, Kamryn, Henry, and Cora as well as Cynthia’s three children and six grandchildren.
Visitation will be held on January 21, 2021 at 6:00 pm at Hillsboro Memorial Funeral Home, 2323 West Brandon Blvd., Brandon, Florida. Funeral Service will be held on January 22, 2021 at 12:00 pm at Nativity Catholic Church, 705 East Brandon Blvd., Brandon, Florida. Graveside Service will be held on January 22, 2021 at 1:00 pm at Hillsboro Memorial Gardens.
To express a condolence with the family and for additional information, visit https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/brandon-fl/kenneth-kelley-9986423. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Ken’s name to support The Spring of Tampa Bay https://thespring.org/donate/ in honor of Ken’s late daughter Kristen Jennifer Kelley.
