Obituary: Larry Kelley, 76, of Hart and Shelby.

Larry Kelley

Obituary: Larry Kelley, 76, of Hart and Shelby.

Larry Paul Kelley, of Hart and Shelby, passed away Saturday, October 24, 2020, after suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. He had just turned 76 and was loved by his wife, children, brothers, relatives and friends. Larry was born in Hart on October 19, 1944, lived and attended school in Hart, took “all the classes I wanted” at Michigan State University and University of Michigan, then returned to Hart and started ICT, Inc., the Shelby Gem Factory, in 1970 with Craig Hardy. ICT was the industry innovator in manufacturing simulated gemstone crystals and was copied worldwide. Larry partnered in inventing a better and cheaper solar cell technology, an all-terrain vehicle for handicapped people and always insisted on doing/fixing everything himself.

Larry worked hard and played hard – loved planes, boats, motorcycles, space and hiking. He enjoyed those passions with family and friends from Lake Michigan to the Southwest to Antarctica. He was still biking or walking the Rail Trail daily from Shelby to Hart until last fall. He would have gone to Mars if it were possible.

Larry loved vacationing with the family, sailing on Lake Michigan, waterparks, Disney, Belize, Formula One races, Christmas and holidays with everyone. He also loved going to the movies. He and teen-aged friends made a diving helmet with which he explored Hart and Silver Lakes. Hart and Ludington residents remember that he and his brother and cousin enjoyed experimenting with rockets.

Larry’s living family includes: his wife, Jo (Howey) Kelley; children, John Paul and Tara, and their children, Lochlan, Claire and Adelyn, Lisa and James Tracy; and their daughter, Nora, Kelley and Scott Madison and their daughter, Ellie, and Daniel and Hailey. He is also survived by his brother, Art and his children, Shelley and Rick and their son, Sean Hartley, and Chad and Jeanie; his brother Jerry and his daughter, Brenda and her family, and his brother, Bill and Sue and their son, Travis and daughter, Samantha and Matt Coughlin and their six daughters.

Larry was preceded in death by his parents, Laurence Arthur and Cleo (Savage) Kelley of Hart.

Visitation will be held Friday, October 30, 2020, at 12:30 p.m., with a time of sharing starting at 1:45 p.m., at Beacon Cremation & Funeral Service, King-Hart Chapel, 2370 North 72^nd Avenue, Hart, MI 49420. Interment will be in Hart Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to: Alzheimer’s Association, alz.org.

Beacon Cremation & Funeral Service, King-Hart Chapel, is in charge of arrangements.

www.beaconfh.com