ForeverMissed
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This memorial website was created in memory of our loved one, Kelly Pearce, 56 years old, born on September 28, 1959, and passed away on March 18, 2016. We will remember him forever.
March 18
March 18
We miss you Kelly and are thinking of you Cathy. Mom would want to say the same. Love Brent and Brenda
March 18
March 18
Kelly, even though you are not with me in body you are and always will be a part of my heart. I love you and miss you sweetheart
Laurie Pearce
March 18
March 18
Thinking of you - you are missed.
Laurie
December 25, 2023
December 25, 2023
Merry Christmas my love. Kelly you are always in my thoughts and forever in my heart❤️
September 28, 2023
September 28, 2023
Thinking of you today - certainly loved and not forgotten.
Laurie
September 28, 2023
September 28, 2023
Happy birthday sweetheart. No matter how long you are gone I will always remember your birthday. We met the day before your 31st birthday and every birthday since has been a reminder to give thanks that you came into my life. You will always be in my heart my love.
June 15, 2023
June 15, 2023
We were married 32 years ago today and there have been a lot of changes for us since that day. But Kelly one constant we have is that you are and always will be the love of my life. Happy anniversary sweetheart.
March 18, 2023
March 18, 2023
Always remembered and so sorry you left us so soon.
Laurie
March 18, 2023
March 18, 2023
With your dad Larry, shoulder yo shoulder singing St Paddies songs through the night till morn.
March 18, 2023
March 18, 2023
You have been gone seven years today sweetheart. Kelly , you are still my first thought in the morning and my very last thought before I fall asleep. I am happy it will be that way forever. All my love❤️
December 25, 2022
December 25, 2022
Merry Christmas sweetheart. I am on my own this Christmas but Kelly when I remember the many happy Christmases we shared I feel you with me. All my love as always.
September 28, 2022
September 28, 2022
Always in my thoughts, and you were always in your dad's thoughts too and much missed.
Laurie
September 28, 2022
September 28, 2022
Sweetheart today is your birthday and it is only right to remember the day. Kelly, you gave me a life filled with love and care. You are and will always be the love of my life. Happy Birthday babe.
June 15, 2022
June 15, 2022
Happy Anniversary sweetheart - 31 years today. Kelly, you will always be a part of me in my heart and in my thoughts whether we are together or apart. All my love XOXO
March 18, 2022
March 18, 2022
Just a note to say that I certainly miss your presence and think of you often. I hope that you have reunited with your dad as you were always in his thoughts.
Laurie
March 18, 2022
March 18, 2022
it has been six years today since you left Kelly and I think about you and miss you everyday my love. I also miss the me I was when you were with me. All my love forever.
December 25, 2021
December 25, 2021
Merry Christmas my love. I decorated the Bahrain tree and smiled as I thought of you and remembered how excited you were when I sent you the tree when you are in Bahrain for our first Christmas as a couple. I smile when I remember all our times together. I miss you Kelly but I will always hold you in my heart and feel you in my life.
September 28, 2021
September 28, 2021
Today is always a day that is always a little less bright and a day to reflect on Kelly’s presence in my life and his father’s life - and how much he is was, and is, missed.
Laurie
September 28, 2021
September 28, 2021
Happy Birthday sweetheart. Kelly, while I can't hold you in my arms I will forever hold you in my heart. All my love
June 15, 2021
June 15, 2021
Happy Anniversary my love - we were married 30 years ago today. In all the world there is no heart for me like yours. In all the world there is no love for you like mine. Forever and always
March 18, 2021
March 18, 2021
You are still very much in my thoughts, and had your dad still been here he would have echoed my thoughts as he always thought of you and continually missed your presence.
March 18, 2021
March 18, 2021
You left 5 years ago today sweetheart. Your memory still walks with me every day and I am so grateful for your company. All my love forever
December 25, 2020
December 25, 2020
Sweetheart, I am missing you today at Christmas as I have throughout the year. Kelly, the greatest gift I ever had were the days and years when you were with me. All my love XXOO
September 28, 2020
September 28, 2020
Thinking of you today and missing you so very much.
Love Dad and Laurie
September 28, 2020
September 28, 2020
Happy Birthday big guy! Still missing you.
September 28, 2020
September 28, 2020
Happy birthday my love. Kelly, while you may not be here beside me to celebrate your birthday please know that you are never far from my thoughts and always in my heart. All my love.
June 15, 2020
June 15, 2020
We were married on a beautiful June day 29 years ago today. Kelly - If I had my life to live over again I would find you sooner so that I could love you longer. Happy anniversary my love.
March 18, 2020
March 18, 2020
It has been 4 years today Kelly and while my mind knows you are gone my love, my heart just can't accept it. I miss you so much sweetheart. All my love xoxo
December 25, 2019
December 25, 2019
Merry Christmas sweetheart. For every day we were together you made me love you more and more. Kelly, you are and will always be the love of my life.❤️❤️❤️
September 28, 2019
September 28, 2019
Can’t believe you are gone. Still miss your calls and regaling our military shenanigans. It’s always nice when you can say “remember this,” and the other person adds to the story and then you both just riff off of each other. That’s what most of our conversations were like.
September 28, 2019
September 28, 2019
Happy birthday sweetheart - you would have been 60 today. Kelly, my love, you are forever in my heart and always on my mind.
June 15, 2019
June 15, 2019
Happy anniversary sweetheart - we were married 28 years ago today. Till death do us part wasn't long enough. What was still is - forever my love❤️
March 18, 2019
March 18, 2019
Think of you often Kelly and I know you are still checking in on all of us. A good soul like yours lives forever. Will have a Coke in your memory today. Love to Cathy from us here in Victoria.
March 18, 2019
March 18, 2019
Sweetheart, you have been gone 3 years today. How does my life go on without you? It is a battle I fight every day. My mind still talks to you and my heart still looks for you. All my love forever.
December 25, 2018
December 25, 2018
Merry Christmas sweetheart. You are near me even if I don’t see you. You are with me even if you are far away. You are in my thoughts, in my heart, in my life always.❤️❤️
September 28, 2018
September 28, 2018
Happy birthday my love. You may not be here beside me to celebrate your birthday but you are always in my heart and in my thoughts. All my loveXOXO
June 15, 2018
June 15, 2018
Happy anniversary sweetheart - we were married 27 years ago today❤️ I miss you Kelly. I miss your voice. I miss your smile. I miss your hugs. I miss your jokes. I miss how you made me feel. I miss your everything. All my love always XOXO
March 18, 2018
March 18, 2018
I lost Kelly two years ago today. Time passes but not a day goes by that he is not here in my heart. The day Kelly died was not just a date on a calendar, it was the day when my very existence changed forever. I love you sweetheart and miss you a little more each day.❤️❤️❤️
December 25, 2017
December 25, 2017
A second Christmas without Kelly and I am missing him today as I have every day throughout the year and remembering those happy days when he was here with me. Merry Christmas sweetheart. All my love forever. XOXO
September 28, 2017
September 28, 2017
Today would have been Kelly's 58th birthday. Happy birthday my love. I miss you a lot more than I realized. Things keep happening and I always find myself wishing I could tell you about them.❤️❤️
June 16, 2017
June 16, 2017
I have been thinking about how happy Kelly was when he got married. I miss my #1 son who I love very much.
Larry
June 15, 2017
June 15, 2017
Kelly and I were married on a beautiful sunny day 26 years ago today.Happy anniversary sweetheart. I love you Kelly, and I will love you until I die, and if there is life after that, I'll love you then.
March 18, 2017
March 18, 2017
A year ago today I lost a dear friend and one of my strongest supporters. We were in the Bahamas at the time and when Charlie Puth sang "it's been a long day without you my friend" (Fast and Furious movie) at his concert that we were attending I could not help but think of Kelly. As we lounged by the pool yesterday, on our vacation in the Dominican Republic, i don't think it was mere coincidence that Charlie Puth came from the speakers spaced around the pool. I dried my eyes, thought of my friend and hoped he was pain free and enjoying a well earned peace.
March 18, 2017
March 18, 2017
Thinking of Uncle Kelly today. :( A year later, I am still sad.
March 18, 2017
March 18, 2017
Kelly passed away one year ago today. Losing Kelly has left a hole in my heart that time cannot heal. I love you and miss you sweetheart and I would trade all my tomorrows for one more day with you. ❤❤❤
December 23, 2016
December 23, 2016
Christmas is quickly approaching - the first one without Kelly and for me it will be a Christmas of happy memories and profound sadness that Kelly is not here to share this Christmas. Kelly was like a big kid at Christmas who took greater joy in giving presents than getting them, who slipped the kids what he called "Uncle Kelly spending money" and who took great pride in being asked to make his "famous" mashed potatoes for the family Christmas dinner. Kelly gave me many presents over the years but the one I will always treasure most is his unconditional love. Merry Christmas sweetheart XXOO
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Recent Tributes
March 18
March 18
We miss you Kelly and are thinking of you Cathy. Mom would want to say the same. Love Brent and Brenda
March 18
March 18
Kelly, even though you are not with me in body you are and always will be a part of my heart. I love you and miss you sweetheart
Laurie Pearce
March 18
March 18
Thinking of you - you are missed.
Laurie
Recent stories

LIFE LESSONS LEARNED FROM KELLY

May 9, 2016

Below is the speech that I was honoured to give at Kelly's Celebration of LIfe.  I hope it provides everyone with an idea of what kind of a person he was and how fortunate I feel to have been able to call him my friend.                



                 KELLY PEARCE CELEBRATION OF LIFE SPEECH 

 

* I met Kelly in High School.   We were in a couple of classes together.  Fortunately I had good marks in those classes as I think many of you know Kelly did not suffer fools.  One of my favourites was auto shop that we took together.  Often worked on things that were a bit more challenging than other students.  Kelly was better at this class than I was.

* I remember Kelly had lived in the States as his father had been posted to Washington, DC.  He was a good basketball player and at many schools would have made the basketball team, unfortunately our school was the top ranked school in the country and had a couple of players who went on to lead the University of Victoria to 5 straight national championships.  Kelly, like a lot of good bb players at our school, could only cheer the team on.  
 

* I also remember Kelly being in Reserves but did not think much of it at first because I was a long haired civilian who could not imagine cutting my hair to join the military.  Of course that changed in the summer following High School graduation when I saw an ad for Communication Reserves in the paper.  I figured I would give it a go for the summer then quit so I could grow my hair long to fit in at university.  Although I did not see Kelly my first summer in Reserves (he was in Egypt on a call out at the time) I did enjoy my summer and opted to stay in the Reserves.   

* Kelly eventually came back from his time in Egypt and we did many exercises together as part of 748 CommunicationsTroop.  For those of you who did not know Kelly during this part of his life I can assure you that he was an outstanding radio and teletype operator.  I was not nearly as technically proficient at military skills as Kelly was but I did at this time learn my first valuable lesson from Kelly.  I learned that I did not have to be the best at something, I simply had to surround myself with the Kelly Pearce’s of the world and be smart enough to capitalize on their expertise.  I continue to use this skill today thanks to Kelly

* Kelly left to join the Regular Force while I was still in Reserves but I would still see him regularly when he was posted to Holberg (northern tip of Vancouver Island) and would come home to Nanaimo regularly.
 

* I also visited Kelly when he was posted to the Tac Hel Sqn in Edmonton.  I think it was a posting he really enjoyed.   I did not see as much of Kelly during his time in Kingston as I was by this time in Victoria starting my career in the Navy.  

 

* I do remember Kelly telling me about meeting a wonderful lady at the restaurant at the Holiday Inn in Kingston.  She was apparently reading by herself at a table and Kelly made a comment about the book as he had read it previously.  They struck up a conversation and as they say the rest is history.  Kelly at this time was on Standby to go to the Middle East for Gulf War 1.  They had time for all of three dates before Kelly deployed. Of course Kelly being the die-hard romantic that he was in no time at all he was proposing over the phone from the Persian Gulf.   Cathy of course being the shrewd woman that she is waited to review the offer in writing.  

* The time eventually came where Kelly had to choose between the military and the woman he loved and of course it was an easy choice.   Those of us who knew Kelly know he loved the military but clearly he loved Cathy far more.  

* Kelly went on to Durham College in Oshawa and received a Certificate in Business Operations Management in Jun 95.  He got a job with Bombardier as a Work and Materiel Planner but as we all know the company has had its struggles and Kelly was eventually laid off.  Kelly later went to work for Goodrich Aerospace specializing in making landing gear for aircraft.  

* By this time Kelly and Cathy were living in Oshawa and while I was teaching a course in Borden (Barrie) I went to visit them.  Zuni, their beloved dog, appeared to take an immediate shine to me and followed me all over the house.  Cathy also seemed to like me but fortunately did not feel compelled to follow me all over the house.  

* When I introduced my wife, Roseann, to Kelly she remarked on how welcoming he was to her and how pleased she was that someone from my past who she had just met made her feel like she had been with me forever.   One of the things that I loved best about Kelly was that it did not matter what had gone on in your own life i.e. where you chose to live, what employment you chose, etc. if you were his friend you were his friend for life and nothing you did could change that.   Loyalty like that is something to be truly admired.  I have tried to adopt that philosophy within my own life as well.  Thanks Kelly.

* I have been fortunate throughout my military career and was able achieve a fair degree of success.   I think we all know people that are sometimes envious of their friend’s successes. I have to say that Kelly was the exact opposite.  He was always as thrilled about any success that I achieved as I was myself.  I have always appreciated that about him as having him celebrate an achievement with me made it that much sweeter.  Once again I try to emulate that in my own life and celebrate the successes of my friends with the same degree of enthusiasm that I would celebrate my own successes.  Thanks Kelly

* We came down to visit Kelly in Oct of last year.  I was at that time, like everyone else in this room I am sure, concerned but hoping for the best knowing that Kelly was a fighter.  What I remember most about that visit was that there was a brief period where Cathy and Roseann had gone to one of the lounges in the hospital and I was alone with Kelly.  During this time he immediately voiced his concern for Cathy if anything were to happen to him.  I was touched by his selflessness.  Even though he was obviously in pain and knew the struggle he faced he was able to put that aside and think about others ahead of himself.  It is something we should all aspire to do if ever faced with similar situations.  Thanks Kelly

* Cathy kept us regularly updated on Kelly’s condition and I know that he fought the good fight right up until the end.  He is at peace now and pain free and for that we can all be grateful.   I will miss our long phone conversations about any number of wide ranging topics and I won’t be able to sit in the Coco Berry Café, a place we often go for breakfast when staying at the Westin Harbour Castle in Toronto, without picturing Kelly strolling in with his Tilley hat and backpack looking so happy to see us.  As I said on Facebook the day Kelly passed, in the words of Charlie Puth “It’s been a long day without you my friend, I’ll tell you all about it when I see you again.”  Rest in Peace Kelly.  You will not be forgotten.  

From Kelly's Niece

May 6, 2016

I never visited Uncle Kelly in Ontario (I live in BC), but he did visit us here. I remember when I was about five or six Kelly and Cathy came. I had an old teddy lamp that broke and scared me. We had put it in the guest room. I remember warning Uncle Kelly and Auntie Cathy not to go into the closest, because the teddy lamp might get you.

We also spend lots of time talking to him on the phone. He was one of those people, who if you saw his name come up on call display, you better make sure you have lots of time. The last time I talked to him on the phone was in January 2015, the day after my 20th birthday. I can't remember what we talked about, though I do recall briefly discussing my job the summer before and I quite enjoyed the discussion. I obviously thought about Uncle Kelly calling a lot because I dreamed it one night. The other people in the dream didn't know Kelly, but seemed to know that he liked to talk. 

In real life, he liked to talk too. When he came out to BC for a visit in May 2013, Kelly and the rest of the family (including me), had some long and enjoyable discussions. 

I will truly miss getting calls from Uncle Kelly and visiting him when he came out.
 

My Son Kelly Pearce

April 14, 2016

I'm hoping to tell the story about my son Kelly Michael Pearce.

He was a noble, strong, generous and affectionate person who gave freely to everyone who came in contact with him. He was noted for his sense of humor his quick laugh and for his ability to organize things.

As a child, Kelly was a wonderfully, happy boy with a habit of getting into scrapes and a sense of mischief. He used to love riding his rocking horse, often falling asleep while rocking away. He was a curious little boy, always adventurous. He caused no shortage of anxious moments. For example, he got up early while on a camping trip and deciding to go swimming. I awoke in the tent and leapt outside only to find our German Shephard, Fleet, holding on to the seat of his pants to prevent him from going into the lake.

Then there was the time when his mother and I left him momentarily in the car while we went into a corner store to get some cold drinks. Kelly put the car into neutral. I just managed to jump into the car to stop it from heading down the hill with Kelly laughing in delight.

Then there was the time he decided to wash our neighbour Charlie Pachal's new Buick hard top.  Giggling and wielding the soap and hose, he thoroughly washed the car inside and outside.

As he grew up, the road for Kelly was not always easily tread, but he met the challenges that were put in his path. He and his best friend Brian Perry were high school pals and spent time in the reserves together and then in the regular force where Brian, much to Kelly's delight, progressed to the rank of Major.

He met Cathy Doran on Sept. 27th, 1990 in the dining room of the Holiday Inn in Kingston when he was on 12 hour call out to go to the Persian Gulf. They had three dates before he left for the gulf on Oct. 26th. The two of them ran up huge phone bills while he was there (so much so that Bell Canada would call Cathy after each monthly bill just to make sure the calls were legitimate). She never did tell Kelly the total amount of the phone bill!

Kelly proposed to Cathy over the phone from Bahrain in November and they were the first couple to be married at the Oshawa Curling Club on June 15, 1991. Shortly thereafter, Kelly and Cathy got their first border collie, Kelsey and he left the military. He started at Durham College in the fall of 1991, completing a one year general studies program with honours in June 1992 and graduating with a Certificate in Business Operations Management in June 1995. While Kelly was in school he also taught first year business students as an instructor in the inventory management program - something he enjoyed greatly.

He started working with Bombardier Aerospace in Downsview after graduation as a Work and Material Planner until Bombardier did a massive layoff in 2002. He then worked for two years on a contract basis at the Pickering Nuclear Generating Plant as a Retrofit Planner. In 2005 he started with Goodrich Aerospace in Oakville as a Work and Material Planner and he and Cathy got their second border collie, Zuni. In 2006, Kelly and Cathy left Oshawa and moved to Hamilton. Kelly stayed at Goodrich until 2009 when Goodrich did a staffing restructuring of the unit where Kelly was working. Kelly then accepted the position of Domestic Project Manager of the Pearce household - a role that he carried out brilliantly right up until the end.

Trying to describe Kelly is easy; he was well liked and he was always ready to help and never turned down a request when asked for assistance. If you wanted a problem solved he would do his best to find the solution. He had a keen sense of communications and computers and the use of electronics.

His love of Irish music, in particular, the many songs of the Clancy Brothers brought much enjoyment to the family and to me; we shared much of the music together and in particular "Finnegan’s Wake" and his favourite Irish rebel folk song "Johnson's Motor Car."

Kelly had a strong sense of community and he was able to make friends easily and seldom had a harsh word – he had close friends in the neighborhood and in the military. He liked nothing better than eating steak with friends and family and his favourite phrase was "I love it when a plan comes together."

There was sunshine in his smile, and a twinkle in his eye, and a love for family including his loving wife Cathy, the Doran clan, his brother Scott and his family, Heather and Allie, and myself and my wife Laurie.

Kelly Pearce, was my Sunny Boy and I miss him terribly.

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