Obituaries
George F.
Kelley
George F. Kelley died peacefully in the presence of his family on
February 28, 2016 in Concord, NH at the age of 95. He is
survived by his wife, Carolyn M. (Young) Kelley and his three
children, Nancy K. Beaton and her husband Jeffrey D. Beaton of
Mansfield, MA, Margaret E. (Peggy) Kelley of Bedford, NH and Charles
G. (Chuck) Kelley of Gilmanton, NH. He also leaves four
grandchildren, Alyssa C. Mulcahy, Jonathan J. Gottwald, Meghan E.
Beaton, and Benjamin K. Gottwald; a great grandchild, Ella L.
Mulcahy; and siblings, Harriet E. Kelley of Boscawen, NH, John S.
Kelley of Danvers, MA, and Mary G. Alex of West Yarmouth, MA.
George was born on December 24, 1920 in Gilmanton, NH to Charles G.
Kelley and Hattie (Page) Kelley. He graduated from the University of
New Hampshire in 1943 with a degree in mechanical engineering. He
married Carolyn M. Young in 1958. They had 57 happy years together
in Ipswich and Hamilton, MA and Gilmanton and Concord, NH.
George Kelley worked for General Electric Co. for 40 years as a
mechanical engineer in their Steam Turbine Division in Lynn, MA
until his retirement in 1985. He was also a founding member of the
General Electric New Hampshire Association of Retirees.
George loved his family and events when they could gather to
celebrate family milestones and his New Hampshire heritage. He
loved to travel, especially historical sites and our national parks.
He loved sailing and, in his younger years, could often be found
sailing with his family off the Massachusetts shoreline. He
loved to sing and was a member of several church choirs and local
choral societies.
He loved his hometown of Gilmanton. He helped preserve the
Kelley Schoolhouse; the one-room schoolhouse that he attended as a
child. He served on several town committees, including
Trustees of Trust Funds, Zoning Board, and Gilmanton Historical
Society. He was instrumental in funding and building the
permanent Gilmanton Year-round Library. He created the Charles
G. Kelley Memorial Forest in honor of his late father.
He enjoyed the Havenwood-Heritage Heights community, which gave him
and his wife many fond memories and great friends. He was
active in this community as well, volunteering in their library, on
their Wish Committee and in many other areas.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Gilmanton
Year-round Library, 1385 NH Route 140, Gilmanton Iron Works, NH
03837 or the First Baptist Society, c/o 9 NH Route 129, Gilmanton,
NH 03237.
A memorial/celebration of his life and
burial will be held in the Spring (details to follow).
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