Thomas Michael Kelley

Tom was born September 8, 1953 in Pekin, Illinois. After graduating from Pekin High School, he received his BS in Civil Engineering from the University of Illinois, Champagne-Urbana in 1975. He worked in the Chicago area with a consulting engineering firm for a short while and moved to Washington state in 1977. Tom joined Snohomish County Public Works in 1985 and worked there for over 20 years. In 2007, Tom accepted the Construction Manager position with Kittitas County Public Works in Ellensburg, Washington.

Tom spent the majority of his career as a public employee, designing and building roads, bridges, sidewalks, and facilities. He built the hippopotamus enclosure and waste storage facility at Woodland Park Zoo. He worked on the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints Temple in Bellevue. He worked on the Snohomish County PUD Henry M. Jackson Hydro-electric project in Sultan. He worked on the NOAA Regional Research Laboratory at Sand Point in Seattle. He worked the Snohomish County medium waste facility in Everett. He built overpasses for the Centennial Trail extension project from Lake Stevens to Arlington. He improved and widened multiple county roads to help all of us get where we need to be.

Tom’s favorite activities were watching the Seattle Seahawks games as a season ticket holder, playing or listening to music, admiring fast cars, and riding his motorcycle. Tom loved to root for the Seahawks at home games, and he was active in the Snohomish County Chapter of the Sea Hawkers Booster Club for many years. Even after moving to Ellensburg, he frequently attended home games with his friends.

Tom’s love of music began at an early age, and he was encouraged by his mother who played many instruments herself. Tom played coronet and trumpet in high school band, and begin playing bass guitar as a teenager. He played bass with Red Axe, Cheap Thrills, and Mercenary in the 1980s. While in Ellensburg, he held jam sessions for local musicians in his private garage stage.

Tom has long been a fan of hot rods and fast bikes. He enjoyed the annual car show at Kla Ha Yah Days and the annual Chamber of Commerce car show each September in Snohomish. For several years he raced demolition derby with Armadillo Racing team.

Tom is a long-time supporter of motorcycle rights and ABATE of Washington. He was a founding member of Sky Valley Chapter, ABATE of WA, near Everett. With his wife, Tom ran the ABATE Spring and Fall Swap Meets at the Evergreen Fairgrounds for 7 years. He was a key leader in organizing and running the Old Snohomish Antique & Classic Motorcycle Show from 1996 until 2006. Since moving to Kittitas County, Tom helped to start the Iron Horse Trail Motorcycle Show in Ellensburg.

Tom visited his family in Oregon often, and he introduced Tillamook to lattes while volunteering at the Tillamook United Methodist Church annual Christmas bazaar. He ran the espresso machine for several years.

Tom is preceded in death by his father, Melvin E. Kelley, of Pekin, Illinois, and by his step-father, Everett H. Jarchow, of Tillamook, Oregon.

He is survived by his mother, his wife, and his 2 stepsons. Tom’s mother Betty J. Jarchow moved from Tillamook in January to live with Tom and his wife, Beryl A. Kelley, in Ellensburg. Tom’s stepsons Richard C. Doane, of Seattle, and Sean C. Doane, of Everett, miss him.

A memorial honoring Tom’s life will be held September 3 at 1:00 PM at the family home in Ellensburg. Pastor Dean Eckloff of Midnight Cry Community Fellowship in Snohomish will preside at the ceremony. After the brief service, a motorcycle run will retrace the route of Tom’s last ride with his wife from Ellensburg to Cle Elum through Swauk Prairie and the Teanaway Valley. Contact Steward & Williams Tribute Center in Ellensburg for more information on the memorial service (509) 925-3141.

Donations can be made in Tom’s memory to American Diabetes Association or your local Red Cross. Tom coordinated CPR training for the Public Works Department after moving to Ellensburg, and he had become a big supporter of Kittitas County Chapter Red Cross.

Arrangements under the direction of Steward & Williams Tribute Center, Ellensburg, WA.