Bill G. Kelly
March 27, 1935 - February 16, 2017
On February 16, 2017, beloved husband, loving father, and cherished grandfather, Bill G Kelly, died peacefully at home, surrounded by love.
On March 27, 1935, Bill was born to Dorce and Hellece Kelly, in Paradise. Bill had one older brother, Jack, two younger brothers and a younger sister; Gyme, Joan and Gary. Bill attended Paradise Grade school, and graduated from Plains High School in 1954. He loved sports including track, basketball and football. During his senior year, he played running back on the Plains Horsemen 6-man football team that won the Divisional Championship.
Bill married his high school sweetheart, Frances D. Livingston, in Plains September 4, 1954. They made their first home in Libby. Bill and Frances had four children Michael, Molly, Katrina and Jerry.
At a young age, Bill started working in the timberlands of Montana with his Dad, packing gas and oil and learning the skills of timber felling. He worked in various locations in northwestern Montana for the Bache Brothers, J. Neals and others, often working with his Dad and brothers. After M.C. Livingston and Nep A. Lynch moved the Livingston Lumber Sawmill from Thompson River to North Fork, Idaho, Bill and George Biggs (Kelly and Biggs Logging) supplied timber for the sawmill. Bill and Frances later formed Kelly Logging.
Bill logged for more than 50 years in Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, and Utah. He was a visionary for the timber industry, introducing mechanized logging into the intermountain region in the early 1980s. At one time, he was the largest employer in Lemhi County, Idaho. In 1984, the Kelly Logging office was moved from Salmon, ID. to Missoula, where it remains today. Bill developed good working relationships with many sawmills including Pyramid Mountain Lumber in Seeley Lake, and R-Y Timber in Townsend and Livingston, where the company operated Skyline machines and mechanized logging operations.
Bill felt it was important in being involved in various organizations to promote and educate others about the Timber Industry. He served on the executive board of the MLA (Montana Logging association) and helped to develop the ALP (Accredited Logging Professional) program, which is a leading national program promoting harvesting using BMP (Best Management Practices) to help ensure our forests are productive for generations to come. He was honored by MWPA (Montana Wood Products Assoc.), in 2000, as “Logger of the Year” and Hoo Hoo, Ch. 187 “Lumberman of the Year” in 2008. One of Bill’s favorite organizations was “Provider Pals”, by Bruce Vincent, which travels to inner city schools and educates the students about the timber industry. He loved making “tree cookies” for the youngsters to count rings on. Bill led by example demonstrating that when you get up early and work hard, good things will come.
Bill had perfected the traveling logger diet, consisting of coffee, popcorn, PB & J, Kipper snacks and black licorice.
Bill made time for his family, Molly and Katrina enjoyed horseback riding and dance, while Mike and Jerry rallied for motocross bringing the family together on the weekends. Dad would always have a thermos of coffee and plenty of snacks for us all.
In 2008, Bill had a stroke, and while it may have changed his life dramatically, it did not touch his sharp mind, positive outlook and constant optimism. Through many trials and tribulations, Bill’s faith in Jesus Christ our Savior never wavered.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Dorce and Hellece, his brothers, Jack and Gyme, and his sister, Joan. He is survived by his wife Frances, his children, Mike(Juli), Molly(Harry), Katrina(Jim), Jerry(Angie), 19 grandchildren, 16 great grandchildren and his brother, Gary(Karen), and many cherished nieces and nephews
A celebration of his life is planned for spring 2017. Updates will post on Kelly Logging Inc. Facebook page as available