J Donald Kelley

Don was born in Crockett, Texas, on the 15th of July 1935, to S J and Edna Sharp Kelley. The family moved to Houston in the late 1940's where Don attended Lamar High School, graduating in 1953. Upon graduation from Lamar, Don enrolled in Southern Methodist University where he was a member of Alpha Tau Omega. He subsequently transferred to the University of Houston where he met his first wife and the mother of his children, Mary Sue Lewis of Liberty, Texas, to whom he was married on the 31st of August 1956. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering in 1959. In the mid 1960's, Don and Mary Sue moved to the Tanglewood area of Houston where they raised their three children and were members of St. Martin's Episcopal Church. Don worked as a Mechanical Engineer for various companies, including SIP, Dow Chemical, DuPont and Bechtel, until he formed his own engineering and construction company, Plant Engineers Inc., which he ran until his retirement. Don and Mary Sue had been married over 40 years at the time of her death on the 28th of December 1996.

Don married Kay Gibson Surles on the 9th of April 1999, in the Chapel of St. John the Divine. They enjoyed many wonderful years together, sharing a love of travel, gardening and dining with their many friends. With their combined families, Don and Kay shared seven children and seventeen grandchildren. They were actively involved in the lives of their grandchildren and enjoyed watching them in all of their activities ranging from sports to theater. A number of the grandchildren attended St. Francis Episcopal Day School, where Don & Kay were active in many grandparents' activities.

Don was a friend to many, and was particularly fond of his many cousins. He often spoke of the early years with the members of the Sharp, Kelley, Meek and Higginbotham families. Whenever someone was sick, grieving over the death of a loved one or generally in need, Don was one of the first ones there to lend a helping hand.

Don is preceded in death by his father, S J Kelley; his mother Edna Sharp Kelley Little; his first wife, Mary Sue Lewis Kelley; her brother, Henry Lee Lewis Jr.; and his brother, Jerry Frank Kelley. He is survived by his wife, Kay Gibson Surles Kelley; his sister, Anne Kelley Chisholm and husband Dr. Robert Chisholm; his children, Jay D. Kelley and wife, Nancy W. Kelley, Jeffrey G. Kelley and wife, Theresa Kelley, and Linda Kelley Brown and husband, Bob Brown; his grandchildren, Jay D. Kelley, Jr., Katherine R. Kelley, Justin Kelley, Ashley Brown, Robert Brown Jr., Caroline Kelley and Kathleen Kelley; Kay's children, Robert "Bobby" Surles and wife Carol Surles, Leslie Surles Nelson and husband, Kent Nelson, Forrest Gibson Surles and wife, Lauri Surles, and Lynne Surles Gillespey and husband Jeff Gillespey; and Kay's grandchildren, Cameran Surles, Taylor Surles, Forrest Surles Jr., Amy Surles, Autumn Surles, McKenzie Gillespey, Brooks Gillespey, Katie Gillespey, Macy Gillespey and Brett Gillespey.

A memorial service celebrating his life is to be conducted at eleven o'clock in the morning on Saturday, the 27th of October, at the Church of St. John the Divine, 2450 River Oaks Boulevard in Houston, where the Rev. Dr. Douglas W. Richnow, Senior Associate Rector, is to officiate. Kindly note that valet parking services are to be offered to those attending the service.

Immediately following, all are invited to greet the family during a reception in the adjacent Sumners Hall.

In lieu of customary remembrances, the family requests with gratitude that donations in Don's memory be directed to the Church of St. John the Divine, 2450 River Oaks Blvd., Houston, TX, 77019; St. Francis Episcopal Day School, "A Time to Grow Capital Campaign," 335 Piney Point Road, Houston, TX, 77024; the American Heart Association , P.O. Box 841125, Dallas, TX, 75284-1125; or to the charity of one's choice .