Jul 18, 1945 - Sep 13, 2026
Today we are saddened as we say goodbye to our beloved Buzz. Beloved Son, Brother, Husband, Dad, Uncle and friend to SO MANY.
All that knew him understand the guiding light we lost with his passing.
Ervin was born in Garden City, Kansas, to George and Ervie Kelley. During his school years, he worked with the family in the small town of Leoti, Kansas. After high school, he attended York University, Nebraska, for a year before enlisting in the US Navy at 19.
He had nine weeks of boot camp across the country in San Diego, followed by nine months of Radar School in San Francisco. In March 1966, he was assigned to the USS Jerome County LST848, a tank landing ship. Here along with his fellow crewmen, he spent two tours operating “the boat’s” communication and navigation equipment in Vietnam.
During his deployment, his family moved to Lincoln City, Oregon, where they proudly owned and operated Barnacle Bill’s Seafood Market. After his discharge on May 4th, 1969, he joined them, but he soon moved to Portland with his older sister, Georgia, and her husband, Michael Graves. There, he attended Portland Commun ity College where he met his future wife, Jeannette Kliese, from Lake Oswego. They married on May 20th, 1972.
After moving to Aloha, Oregon, they welcomed daughter, Patricia (Pumpkin), in January, 1974, and son, Stacy, in August, 1975. In 1977, the family moved permanently to Oak Street in Hillsboro, Oregon. Here they became part of a family neighborhood with lifelong friends and countless memories.
Ervin became the paint “expert” for The Edwards Lumber Company. He was with them through the BMC West name change of the 1990s, retiring in 2007. Buzz thoroughly enjoyed helping his clients, but it was obvious his favorite part of the job was meeting new people to share his life stories and generous heart.
After retiring, he gained a love for NASCAR, one he shared with his son, taking yearly trips to tracks around the country. He also loved the Buffalo Bills, so Sundays were “game days.” Buzz could always be found helping an Oak Street neighbor or friend with whatever was asked. Yard work, home repairs, transportation, or just sage advice; no request was ever too big.
In 2024, as a special thank you for his caring soul and years of military service, Ervin was treated to an Honor Flight to Washington, DC. He and Tricia said that it was an experience of a lifetime, one they shared often.
Buzz NEVER said no to anyone, even as his health slowed his abilities, he always found a way “to Get-RDone,” it just took longer. We hope that all who were touched by his heart of gold, his “larger than life” stories, and his no BS attitude, will continue to share Buzz’s way of paying it forward by caring for others.
Ervin’s living legacy includes his wife, Jeannette; daughter, Patricia; son, Stacy; sister-in-law, Pamela Brandeberry; and his favorites, numerous nieces and nephews that truly LOVED their Uncle Buzz.
Ervin is preceded in death by his parents, George and Ervie Kelley; sister, Georgia, and brother-in-law, Michael Graves.
In lieu of flowers, donations to Gung Ho Ministries, a Veterans Service of Beaverton, Oregon, are appreciated.
Ervin “Buzz” Kelley
