Donald - Age 82 - Los Alamos - Kelley

Long-time Los Alamos resident and artist, Donald Keith Kelley, passed away on the evening of Tuesday, September 13, 2011 at Los Alamos Medical Center.\r\nKeith was born in Cambria, Illinois in November 1928 to Henry and Ethel Kelley. He married Carrie Lee (“Pinky”) Jago in 1950. Keith was preceded in death by his wife, Carrie, and daughter, Karla Zimmerly. He is survived by brother, David Kelley and his wife Betty of Houston, Texas; daughters, Karen Valdez and her husband Valentin of Salida, Colorado, Kerry Perera and her husband Brint of Los Alamos; his son-in-law, Brian Zimmerly of San Clemente, California; his grandchildren, Faye Valdez Fortson, Chesco Valdez and his wife Amie, Breanna and Brittany Perera and Ryan Zimmerly; his great-grandchildren, Alexandria and CJ Valdez.\r\nKeith enjoyed a full and beautiful life. He transferred from Highland Park College in Michigan to the University of New Mexico to pursue the study of Archeology. Keith came to Los Alamos to work at the Safeway store in 1949. He retired at 46 from retail business—having been a manager at the Mesa Market and Piggly Wiggly stores—and began a new life, full-time, in oil painting and sculpting. He painted hundreds of original paintings (each with his signature “hidden bunny” in them), now hanging in private collections around the country and the world, including in the American Embassies in Moscow, Russia and Pretoria, South Africa. \r\nKeith was an avid skier. He also liked rock climbing, kayaking, and tennis. He was a pilot, having his own plane at 19. He was a professional photographer, and won many national awards for his photographs, including one that is hanging in the Smithsonian.\r\nA private interment will occur at Guaje Pines Cemetery in Los Alamos. \r\nIn lieu of flowers, please make a donation to your favorite charity. He wished all his family and friends love.

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