Kelley and me in Kirkland, at my wedding to Gary in July 2005. You can see why she called me her "shrimp" mom.  I've been looking up to her since she was 12 years old!

Roxie and Kelley adored each other. Just look at the expression on Kelley's face in the photo that Sapphire Sun Hort says is her mother's favorite (the one of Kelley in the black sweater). That's Kelley looking downward toward Roxie, and the joy and love on her face are obvious.

Roxie's a Golden Lab/Husky mix, though you'd never know it from her appearance, except for the one blue eye. Her personality, on the other hand, can be very much Husky: intelligent, stubborn, independent, and alpha female.

We rescued her from the pound, and I believe Roxie never forgot that. She was like an angel in canine form in Kelley's life. 

And, like most Huskies, Roxie "sings" when she's happy, especially when she's greeting people she likes a lot. She also has a fine sense of humor and was always a good sport when Kelley or I played "gotcha" or other canine practical jokes on her.  I've never known a dog that "smiled" so much in the company of her humans!  

What a little "monkey" Kelley was! We lived in San Diego and often went to the beach. Afterward, she loved brushing the sand off my skin, or her dad's, especially from between our toes. Even as an adult, she still liked to "groom" her mom -- plucking my eyebrows (which she was very good at), and chasing me while begging to pick my nearly invisible blackheads.  :-)

Kelley's giving her baby sister Anna a bath in the sink, and they're both having great fun! 

Kelley holding her baby sister Danielle, Okinawa

Kelley with her mom, Lisa Clare, in picture-postcard-perfect Victoria, BC (1995?)

Kelley, after fishin' with her mom, her Uncle Jimmy, and a group of other folks on a boat out in Puget Sound. She caught the first fish of the morning, a small shark, which the "captain" immediately took off the line and threw back into the water!  We still don't know why. But, as you can see, Kelley did manage to catch a salmon that morning, too. 

Kelley coming up the stairs after work one evening.  This is my mother's favorite picture of her.  She looks so beautiful. 

Kelley was 6 years old the first time I laid eyes upon her.  She had come to North Carolina to stay the summer with us.  She was so brave flying by herself all the way from San Diego.  To have had Kelley in my life from that time on was such an amazing adventure.  I was blessed to have watched her grow up from a little girl to a young woman....her first kiss....her first love....her first heart break, dance team, track and all the great things teenagers do.  At every step, Kelley showed grace, humor and a fire for life.  I was blessed in everyway to have had Kelley and her three beautiful sisters.  My heart hurts for my son who will never have the delight of knowing his big sister Kelley.  I thought we would have so much time.....

Thank you to Lisa Clare for always supporting me during those years.  Thank you for sharing our daughter.  I will forever love you for that.  And thank you Jim for letting me love and parent her all those years.....

And to my Kell Bell.....until we meet again.....all my love, Mom #2 Dee

THE DAY I WAS TOLD THAT MY NIECE PASS AWAY. I ASK THIS QUESTION WHY? WE FEEL SO MANY EMOTIONS AND DON'T GET ANY ANSWERS.

I KNOW WE HAVE TO FEEL REMORSE BUT WHY OUR CHILDREN.

I FEEL SO MUCH HEARTACHE AND PAIN FOR MY BROTHER AND LISA.

MAY GOD BOTH GIVE YOU THE STRENGTH TO BARE WHAT YOUR GOING THREW.

I REMEMEBER WHEN I WENT TO CALIFORNIA TO MEET MY NIECE FOR THE FIRST TIME SHE WAS SO CUTE, I ENJOYED EACH DAY AND TIME THAT I SPENT WITH HER. I PRAY THAT GOD WILL WATCH OVER HER IN HEAVEN WHERE SHE IS SAFE AND THAT ONE DAY WE WILL MEET AGAIN.

TO MY BROTHER AND FAMILY AND LISA I LOVE YOU ALL  AND MAY GOD HEAL YOU ALL  FROM THIS PAIN IN YOUR HEART.

LOVE ALWAYS, MARILYN & ARMANDO / COUSINS ARMANDO JR / MICHAEL JAMES

When Kelley was born I had already left the service and was residing in Houston Texas while her mom was in San Diego California. giving birth to Kelley.  I was suppose to be with her during the birth. Anyway a few weeks later Kelley arrives with mom. At first I felt like astranger to her, then she started warming up to me and she was a great baby.. Kelley loved attention and loved to be read to  several times  a night.  As she got older we had moved back to San Diego California where Kelley and I would go to Pizza Hut for her favorite cherry tomatoes. She really loved eatting them.  When we would leave I would place her on my shoulders to take her back home,  I would always carrried her everywhere.  Then I had received orders to move to Fort Bragg North Carolina, This were Lisa Family lived  and Of course my Top Secret Job I had at Pope Air Force Base, So Kelley  would adapt very well through the changes.and was able to be herself. She alwas love adventure, 

Kelley and I met in Middle School when she moved to Fruitland with her family.  During one of our first conversations ever, she told me I reminded her of her best friend from Okinawa. I think this meant she knew we'd be great friends.   We did indeed quickly become friends and in High School we were inseparable.  She was my Kindred Spirit and Bosom friend.  The kind of friendship we shared doesn't come along very often and even then I knew how special it was.  I never had to pretend to be someone else with Kelley, it is a great gift to give to someone to allow them the opportunity to be them self and not hold anything back.  Kelley had a great sense of humor and was a true loyal friend.  She had my back and I had hers, which was especially important when someone would have an issue with one of us.  It's a pretty amazing feeling to know that you have a friend that will stick by you through it all. And Kelley did.

 Laughter dominated the time we spent together. Kelley was committed to having a good time.  I think our boisterous laughter occasionally annoyed but was more often contagious.   Kelley was with me for just about every truly crazy shenanigan I ever pulled.  There was the time we tried to pull one over on Jim. We got a snickers bar and replaced the contents with "leftovers."  We laughed so hard our sides hurt. We thought we were really sneaky. We left the lumpy Snickers bar in the garage and hoped Jim would walk by and say "mmm, a Snickers!" and then open it.  Of course Jim didn't fall for this, but the laughs it provided us made our attempt totally worth it.

I visited Kelley in Seattle a few times and she always went out of her way to make our time together so fun and special.  She really loved to make other's happy.  Kelley planned a dinner for us at Canalis. She spared no expense to make sure we had a memorable night.  It must have been obvious that we were having wonderful time because we had other guests stopping by to say hi and comment on how wonderful it was to see 2 people having so much fun together.

Kelley was part of my growing up and a part of who I am.  Even though Kelley and I haven't seen each other for  a while, I can't forget the friendship we shared.  Like I said, that kind of friendship doesn't come along very often.  She will have a special place in my heart always. I know Kelley is at peace now and I know I will see her again. She is with those she loves and spreading her joy with those she meets. I love you, my bosom friend, Kelley.

Kelley is missed very much by our entire family including Scott Hendrickson, Nancy Walker, Sapphire Sun Hort and her daughters Mica and Chenoa, and of course her longtime boyfriend, Jeff Fosie.  She spent many family gatherings with us including Christmases, Thanksgivings and many other holidays. She was always such a delight to have around and either prepping dinner or sharing in the cooking or making sure everyone had full water glasses. She was always so generous in her love and appreciation for a warm and loving atmosphere that we provided for her and  received from her in return. Her infectious giggle was heard throughout our home for years.  We all ached for her when her she wrestled with her inner turmoil, like we would for any family member.   I am speaking for my entire family when I say, we all wished we could have done more for her.  Many tears have been shed at the news of her passing.