Barry Lee Kelly

Barry Lee Kelly, 64, Commander, Aviator, USN, retired, died peacefully at his home in Crowley, TX, Saturday, August 20, 2016, with his loving and devoted wife Molly by his side. He is survived by wife Molly Meloy Kelly and his two sons. Lt. Alex Kelly and his wife Anne Kelly, Army WO Phillip Kelly, his brother and sister in law James and Susan Kelly and his mother Gwen Kelly. He is sorely missed by a multitude of friends, extended family and colleagues. The world has lost a true renaissance man. An avid outdoorsman, Barry loved trout fishing, hunting and skiing, and has passed on this love to his two boys. When weather drove him inside he loved woodworking, and was an avid gamer before there even was such a thing. An engineer, a systems thinker, by inclination, education, and vocation, he delighted in providing answers to complex questions we weren’t yet smart enough to ask; most often with a twinkle in his eye. Later in life, he would take to the Texas skies in his private aircraft, or delight in a track day or car show with his latest performance car. Barry liked his toys. Appointed to the US Naval Academy from upstate NY, Barry pursued a degree in Ocean Engineering and was commissioned as a Naval Officer in 1973. He later transferred to Naval Aviation and earned the Gold Wings as a Naval Flight Officer in 1975. His Naval Aviation flying career was in the S-3 Viking carrier-based aircraft. He accumulated thousands of operational hours, hundreds of carrier traps, and innumerous life-long shipmates. He reveled in the tough assignments, yet always found a way to make you laugh. He was a valued member in every wardroom, earning the Navy Meritorious Service Medal (MSM), the Navy Commendation Medal (NCM) the Navy Achievement Medal (NAM), and the Southwest Asia Service Medal. Following retirement from active duty, he melded his love of engineering and aviation in his work endeavors, starting with an advanced degree in Systems Science from SUNY Binghamton as he prepared for his second career. Barry worked as a systems engineer for Lockheed Martin Systems Integration, Lockheed Martin Aeronautics, Bell Helicopter – TEXTRON, and was well known in the DFW area as an expert in Performance Based Logistics and Supply Chain Management for naval aviation parts for Navy and Marine aircraft including the H-60 Nighthawk, the F-35 Lightning II, and the V-22 Osprey. A local Fort Worth memorial service and celebration is planned for 2:00 pm on Sunday, Sep 4, at the Mayfield Kiser Funeral Home in Burleson, Texas. Visitation for friends and family will begin at 12:30 pm. His body will be later transferred to Pensacola, Florida, where he will be buried with full Military honors at Barrancas National Cemetery, onboard Naval Air Station Pensacola, on Friday, Sep 9, 2016 at 2:00 pm In lieu of flowers it is recommended that friends make contributions to the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation.