Tim Kelly Obituary (1959 - 2023)

With a heart as big as his motorcycle, Tim Michael Kelly, or as we all know and love him, Tim, has taken his last adventurous ride on November 7, 2023. Born on October 26, 1959, in Little Rock, AR, USA, he brought a contagious sense of humor and a relentless spirit of adventure to all those he encountered. Tim was a man of many hats - an empathetic son, a supportive brother, a witty cousin, and an adventurous motorcycle enthusiast. He was the kind of guy who could turn a trip to the grocery store into an epic adventure, and his stories were the stuff of legends. As the great Mark Twain once said, "Explore. Dream. Discover." And boy, did Tim embody that spirit! Tim was a proud retiree of Christensen Manufacturing in Salt Lake City, Utah, where he spent many years before hanging up his hat in 2020. But to say that Tim was just a employee would be like saying a fish only likes water. He was so much more. He was an adventurer at heart, with a love for motorcycle riding that often led him off the beaten path. He was also a tender-hearted homebody, finding joy in the simple pleasures of home life with his mother and his beloved pet fish. The fish, whose name is still up for debate, will truly miss his empathetic and supportive companion. The legacy of Tim's larger-than-life personality and love for adventure will continue to live on through his loving mother, Joyce Kelly, and his sisters, Tracy Kelly and Dee Colvin. His spirit of adventure will also be carried on by his nephews, Chase (Sadee) Hoaglin, Ian Hoaglin, Shawn Colvin, niece, Autumn (Christian) McInturff; great nieces and nephews and many cousins; Pete (Anna) Stevens, Marc (Lisa) Distefano, Karen Taylor, Sally Turner, Michael Turner, Kelly Turner, Julie (Jeff) Dean, Marguerite (Jerry) Geiss, and Martin (Mary) Kelly and aunt, Kathleen. He was preceded in death by his father, Roger Kelly, his aunts Patricia (Tony) Stevens and E. Faye (Gordon) Sanford, his uncles Jim (Jean) Kelly and Tom Turner, his aunt Arlene Kelly, and brother-in-law Kelly Colvin. They are, no doubt, together now, sharing a hearty laugh and planning their next escapade. Tim requested no formal funeral be held. As a family we will celebrate his life at a later time. Let's not say goodbye, but rather, "See you later, Tim." In his honor, we encourage you to share your memories, stories, and photos of Tim on his memorial page. Tim may have left us, but his spirit of adventure, his unique sense of humor, and his supportive and empathetic heart will continue to live on in the stories we share. "The secret of genius is to carry the spirit of the child into old age," Aldous Huxley once penned, and Tim, our ever-youthful adventurer, did just that. Here's to you, Tim Kelly. Keep riding that celestial highway.