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Donald Philip McKelvy
10/01/1945 — 11/15/2004
From Kennewick, WA, US | Born in Spokane, Washington
Donald Philip McKelvy
Donald Don P. McKelvy, age 59, passed away Monday November 15. He was born in Spokane WA, but lived most of his life in Kennewick, WA. He was born October 1, 1945, to Phil and Ruth McKelvy.
He is survived by sons: Richard Anderson, David McKelvy, Zachary McKelvy, Michael Powell, and Laramie French. Brothers: Michael Patti McKelvy; James Renae Goin. Sister: Susan Carl Forsman. Also brothers and sisters: DeeDee, Linda, Lonnie, Donnie, Dennis, Kathy, Lucia, and Doug. Life long friends Mike & Nancy Littell and Joe Osborne. He leaves behind numerous aunts, cousins, nieces, nephews, and two grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents Ruth and Merl Goin; and Phil and Kay McKelvy. Don grew up in Kennewick and attended Kennewick High School, and North Central High in Spokane. He served briefly in the U.S. Navy.
Don met his first wife Leona while working in Oregon. Don had many professions, most notably his own auto body business in Portland, OR. Here he met and married Fran, or his ''Fanny''. Don had many trades - too many to list. One of his last jobs, before his health deteriorated, was working here in Kennewick with Jerry Sleater whom he greatly admired.
Don was blessed with many God-given talents. He was an accredited artist, musician, singer, and boxer. He was a member of many different bands. His favorite was ''Don Mack & the States Men''. He had a beautiful singing voice and talent for writing songs. He had recently returned to his love of art by doing portraits of friends and family. He was in the process of writing his autobiography with the help of good friend Mike Littell. Don was always better to others than he was to himself. To know him was to love him. Anybody who knew Don had a story to tell. He was a passionate man who lived his life on his own terms. He left this world peacefully at home with family. Memorial Services will be Saturday, November 20, 2004, 1:00 p.m. at Einans Funeral Home, Richland.
Dad im going to miss you more than anything ever.You were always there for me and i know you still will be while wathching over me in heaven. No matter what people said about him mean or nice you never said mean things about them. I know one day ill be up there with him and i know he will be waiting. When life was tough he made me feel like i could work through anything, and dad made me strive to do my best in what ever i did. Im proud of him and what he had done for me. Ill look under the bed just for him :.love, his son
don was like a brother to me he was part of my family he was there for me when my mom and brother passed dennis and don liked to pick and sing now they can play together i will miss you a bunch love you your sis and friend linda
Don you were a good music teacher and like a brother to me I loved to listen to you pick and sing you were a man that thought well of your family and especilly your children this is not goodbye just so long for now . you were allways there to listen you made feel important when I didn’t beleve in my self. you would listen to my poems you wanted this one read when you were gone . storms may come but they never last forever . when the storm is gone the peace will come .my heart is light like the rainbow after the rain I am flying hi upon a cloud we can never know true peace until the storms have come and gone . forever in my thoughts your cousin sharon
It was an oversight that I left out Don’s other children and my sympathies go out to them also.
I regret I haven’t seen Don since I was a young girl and have few memories of him.
My heart goes out to those who loved him, especially,
Zach and Laremey.
You are all in my thoughts and prayers. I hear that Don was a very special person and I know he will be missed more than words can express. God Bless.
I will miss Don dearly, I loved watching him ‘scribble’ and tell me stories. I remember one time I was over at his house, he told me I was like the daughter he never had. I’ll never forget you Don, and I’ll see you when I get there. I’m glad your not in pain anymore, but I will miss you very much. Here is a prayer I would like to share: You have gone and now I wonder, why it is you must depart. And even though you’re just a memory, your spark of life is in my heart. No tears or wishing bring you back, no hope can change this plan of time. I must wait as you go onward, into those Summerlands divine. The Sun in this world, where you left me. Rises, shining, then descends, setting in the western quarter, yet soon to come back up again. Within your land there is no shadow, and love eternal never dies. I know your with me every moment, even thru this brief goodbye.
Dad im going to miss you more than anything ever.You were always there for me and i know you still will be while wathching over me in heaven. No matter what people said about him mean or nice you never said mean things about them. I know one day ill be up there with him and i know he will be waiting. When life was tough he made me feel like i could work through anything, and dad made me strive to do my best in what ever i did. Im proud of him and what he had done for me. Ill look under the bed just for him :.love, his son
don was like a brother to me he was part of my family he was there for me when my mom and brother passed dennis and don liked to pick and sing now they can play together i will miss you a bunch love you your sis and friend linda
Don you were a good music teacher and like a brother to me I loved to listen to you pick and sing you were a man that thought well of your family and especilly your children this is not goodbye just so long for now . you were allways there to listen you made feel important when I didn’t beleve in my self. you would listen to my poems you wanted this one read when you were gone . storms may come but they never last forever . when the storm is gone the peace will come .my heart is light like the rainbow after the rain I am flying hi upon a cloud we can never know true peace until the storms have come and gone . forever in my thoughts your cousin sharon
It was an oversight that I left out Don’s other children and my sympathies go out to them also.
I regret I haven’t seen Don since I was a young girl and have few memories of him.
My heart goes out to those who loved him, especially,
Zach and Laremey.
You are all in my thoughts and prayers. I hear that Don was a very special person and I know he will be missed more than words can express. God Bless.
I will miss Don dearly, I loved watching him ‘scribble’ and tell me stories. I remember one time I was over at his house, he told me I was like the daughter he never had. I’ll never forget you Don, and I’ll see you when I get there. I’m glad your not in pain anymore, but I will miss you very much. Here is a prayer I would like to share: You have gone and now I wonder, why it is you must depart. And even though you’re just a memory, your spark of life is in my heart. No tears or wishing bring you back, no hope can change this plan of time. I must wait as you go onward, into those Summerlands divine. The Sun in this world, where you left me. Rises, shining, then descends, setting in the western quarter, yet soon to come back up again. Within your land there is no shadow, and love eternal never dies. I know your with me every moment, even thru this brief goodbye.
he was the only man that was weling to take me as his son he waws very loving to me he alway expressed on how much he loved me and my little brother he was the person that taught me how to be a man. he toke me to the ocean for my first time plus camping and flied in a helicopter wich I was scraed of plus when he took me to the ocean i always thought it was going to get him and take him away these are some of the things i will always remember about cause he always asked if i remember those times at the ocean and portland. he was one tough guy. he had some quick hands. i always told my friends that he could through 5 punches and you only saw one punche thrown i went to boxing to learn how to do that but even in a willchare he was still faster than me and a better boxer i could never figure out how he was so qucik it drive me nuts but actually made me very happy that my dad was one tough dude. man i loved this guy. i will always here his funny laugh in my head.
I LOVE YOU DAD
Thank You for me a giving a beautiful son and being a wonderful father to my him and my other son. I’m glad you no longer have to suffer with the pain. May your soul rest in peace. You’ll be missed tremendoulsly
Guestbook for
Donald Philip McKelvy