Ray W. Kelly, 65, passed away at Brendan House in Kalispell on Saturday, Oct. 18, 2008. Ray was born Oct. 12, 1943, in Kalispell, to Marland "Duke" and Bernice (Koegler) Kelly. Ray was raised in Kalispell and graduated from Flathead County High School in 1961.

In 1965 he graduated from court reporting school in Los Angeles. On Dec. 31, 1965, Ray married his high school sweetheart, Nancy Savage, in Kalispell.

He entered the U.S. Army in 1966 and was stationed in Frankfurt, Germany with the Judge Advocate General V(5th) Corps, where he reported court martial hearings. He was honorably discharged in 1969.

Ray then went back to school where he received his Associate of Arts degree from Orange Coast College in Costa Mesa, Calif., in 1975.

Ray retired in 2004 after 30 years of working as an official court reporter in Superior Court. Prior to that he worked as a freelance court reporter in Santa Ana, Calif. After retiring, Ray and his wife moved from Huntington Beach to Palm Desert, Calif., and then spent summers in Bigfork.

Ray loved attending California Angels baseball games, golfing, fishing on his yearly vacations to Montana, spending time with friends and family, traveling with his wife and visiting his nephews.

Ray was preceded in death by his parents, Marland "Duke" and Bernice Kelly.

He is survived by his wife, Nancy, of Palm Desert, Calif.; brother, Pat, and wife, Merry Kelly, of Kalispell; nephews, Sean and wife Marilyn Kelly, Michael Kelly and James Kelly, all of Kalispell, and Ezra and wife Lynn Savage of Napa Valley, Calif.; brothers-in-law, Joe Savage of Eugene, Ore., and Scott Savage of Santa Cruz, Calif.; sister-in-law, Ann Marie Savage; and numerous other aunts and uncles.

The family suggests memorial contributions be made to the Flathead Youth Home, 14 Panoramic Drive, Kalispell, MT 59901.

Memorial services will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday, Oct. 23, at Buffalo Hill Funeral Home.

Friends may post condolences at www.buffalohillfh.com Buffalo Hill Funeral Home is caring for the family.