It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Maxwell Kaye Kelly of Red Deer, AB on the evening of April 26, 2018, at the Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre. Kaye passed away peacefully, at the age of 85, surrounded by family.

He was born August 2, 1932 and raised in both the Great Bend district and Elnora. At the age of 19, Kaye started his career with Gulf Oil, working seismic. This took him all over Alberta as well as northern British Columbia. While in his early 20’s, Kaye led a seismic crew through the rough terrain of the unpopulated north. In 1952, he married Frances Wilton, and in 1953 the first of five children arrived. With his growing family, Kaye transferred to the Nevis Gas Plant in 1963, where he worked as a plant operator until his retirement in 1983.

It was Kaye’s dream to own a farm; he loved to work with his hands, and in 1964 his dream came true when he and Frances purchased the Roy Wilton farm in the Great Bend district. Here they raised their family, and taught their children the value of hard work. Once the kids left home, Kaye and Frances found themselves enjoying many winters in their motorhome, in sunny Arizona.

After many years on the farm, Kaye and Frances retired to Red Deer. The draw of owning a boat and fishing, found them parking their fifth wheel on an RV lot, at Kootenay Lake. It became their second home for several years.

Kaye is lovingly remembered by his wife of 65 years, Frances, five children: Brian (Charlene) Kelly, Brenda (Phil) Besler, Beverly (Brian) MacKinnon, Barbara (Ron) Waddell, Becky (Miles) Lewis; thirteen grandchildren: Shannon Kelly, Jennifer (Sam) Wyatt, Justin (Sarah) Korchinski, Nicholas (Jo-Ann) Korchinski, Caitlin (Rob) Besler, Meghan (Michael) Plooy, Troy and Taylor MacKinnon, Ryan (Amanda) Waddell, Kelly (Mark) Burren, Rory (Sydney) Waddell, Erin (Bill) Gutsche, Jena (Curtis) Lewis; twelve great-grandchildren: Madeleine and Emma Wyatt, Reid, Brenna, and Cayson Waddell, Presley and Aspen Burren, Paisley Waddell, Daxton Knuppel, Henry and Harrison Plooy, and Emerson Gutsche. Kaye was predeceased by great-grandson Rhys Albert Maxwell Waddell, his parents, Evan and Amelia, and brothers, Evan and Richard.

A Celebration of Kaye’s Life will be held at Parkland Funeral Home, 6287 – 67A Street (Taylor Drive), Red Deer, Alberta on Saturday, May 5, 2018 at 3:00 pm.

• Date : 2018-04-26
• Location : Red Deer