Reef Percy Kelly
Reef Percy Kelly
1925 – 2022
Reef Percy Kelly, 97, passed away peacefully in his home in Cedar Hills, Utah on October 24, 2022 at 1:30pm.
The middle child of 3 to Eleck Leon and Millie (East) Kelly, Reef was born March 9, 1925 at home in Safford, Arizona.
Early in life Reef’s parents gave him daily chores and responsibilities. He learned to work hard, and to take pride in a job well done.
His childhood was filled with family activities, school, work at his dad’s store, newspaper delivering, hunting and fishing, swimming, marching band and football.
Reef graduated from Safford High School in the Spring of 1943. Ten days later he reported to Navy boot camp and served until the end of WWII. Reef was assigned to the crew of the “Pirate Princess,” a PB4Y2 Naval patrol bomber, operating in the islands of the Pacific. He was “tail-gunner” and “mission flight photographer.” He was seriously wounded in the last days of the war and received the Purple Heart and Navy Cross for heroic actions.
After the war, Reef went to Eastern Arizona Junior College to study business. There he
met his sweetheart, Nina May Burk. On June 28, 1946 they were married in the Mesa Arizona Temple. They lived in Safford, Arizona for 10 years, and then Flagstaff, Arizona for 55 years. They moved to Cedar Hills, Utah in 2011. They have 6 children.
Reef built two successful retail businesses and later became a broker for his own real estate company. He was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and held responsible callings in the Church all of his adult life. After Reef retired, he and Nina served a mission in the Boston Massachusetts Mission. They also served 13 years in the Snowflake and Mesa Temples in Arizona. These were some of their happiest memories.
Reef was a successful, creative business man and active in Rotary International. If he wasn’t running his business, he enjoyed working on his ranch with the animals and in his garden. He spent countless hours helping others, mentoring them in the things he loved, such as hunting, fishing, boating, water skiing and camping. He always was happy to share what he had with others, and always willing to fill a need.
Reef Percy Kelly was one of the last of the Greatest Generation. The great oak has fallen, and is finally at rest. We know his is so happy in his joyous reunion with his Heavenly Father and dear sweetheart Nina, wife of 76 years.
Reef is preceded in death by his wife, Nina, his parents, siblings, (sister Carmen Curtis, and brother Neil Kelly) and two of his children, Douglas and Joan.
He is survived by his children Joyce Erickson (husband Erick), Dennis (wife Holly Rogers), Jennifer Dean (husband Ron), Shane (wife Bernadette Canlas), 22 Grandchildren and 47 Great-grandchildren.
Funeral Services for Reef will be held on Saturday, November 5, 2022 at 11:00 am in the Cedar Hills 6th Ward Chapel, located at 9737 North Chesterfield Drive, Cedar Hills, Utah. Family and friends may call on Friday evening from 6:00-7:00 pm at the Warenski Funeral Home, 1776 North 900 East, American Fork, Utah and at an additional viewing on Saturday morning from 9:30-10:30 am prior to services at the church. Interment will be in the American Fork City Cemetery at the northeast corner of 700 North and 100 West, American Fork, Utah.
For those who will be attending remotely:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLO9QD59PR95Cb7CVIVsPdc7GmbJu81LAp