Jonathan Ray Kelly

Jonathan Ray Kelly passed away Friday, October 03, 2025 at 7:13pm, with his son by his side. 

He was born December 8th, 1956 and was 68 years old when he passed to the next realm. 

Other than a few years in Terra Alta and Kingwood, Jon lived his entire life on his family’s property on Coal Lick as a third generation Kelly on the land affectionately referred to by all in the area as The Hill. It was a major point of pride in his life to be able to pass that land to his children debt free and without complication, to keep the family legacy alive, and he accomplished that. 

Jon graduated from Kingwood High School in 1975. He turned down offers for wrestling scholarships and a career in cartoon illustration to stay close to his family and chose to make his love of working on cars a career. He prided himself in doing the best work he could at affordable rates believing that people in the area were often ripped off by larger garages who did worse work. He wanted his work to help people. 

There was a sign Jon had made for his shop that said - In this establishment we do three types of jobs: cheap, quick, and good - and you can choose any two you like...  

You can have a good job quick, but it won’t be cheap 

You can have a cheap job good, but it won’t be quick 

You can have a quick job cheap, but it won’t be good  

Anyone who knew Jon would say that while this joke reflected his wit and charm - Jon never charged enough and you never got anything back quickly. A great job cheap that you’ll get back some unknown day in the future was the only thing actually on the menu. As a great friend of his recently noted, Jon would tell you he’d be out Wednesday. And he would be. You just never knew if it was Wednesday next week or a Wednesday next month or next year. 

Much of this delay was because outside of being that person who can fix anything on a machine, Jon was also the guy you’d seek out when you needed some counseling, good advice, or a laugh with a real one. When you needed to brainstorm. When you needed honest advice. When you needed to complain and moan or didn’t know what to do with your wife, kid, husband, or bad boss - when you weren’t sure what to do about life, Jon was there. As much as Jon loved to fix machines, he loved talking to people and the relationships he developed in his community. He loved making them laugh and feel seen. He loved trying to help them have a better life. He was a common man with rough hands. He preferred common people, but could hold his own anywhere. He lacked confidence and trust in powerful people. He had an incredible imagination and was endlessly creative. He was a charismatic and unique man in a world largely full of drones. He was a human, flaws and all, and there aren’t enough like him around. He was a mentor to countless young men in the area who appreciated his honesty, open mind, and good will. All who knew him have suffered a great loss in their lives by his departure. 

Jon was preceded in death by his wife, Barbara Suter Kelly, father Charles Ray Kelly and mother Myrtle Louise Kelly. 

He is survived by his son, Christopher Ray Kelly and wife Kimberly. Daughter, Rebecca Jo Kelly. Brother, Samuel Joseph Kelly and wife Rhonda Lee Kelly. Sister, Lillian Myrtle Mann. Grandchildren, Olivia Renee Kelly, Elijah Kelly, Maera Louise Kelly, and Anais Katherine Kelly. Countless cousins and best friends - closest to him Steven Scott who he often referred to as his best friend and brother. 

At his extremely specific request, Jon will be cremated and his remains will be buried in the family cemetery on The Hill.

A Celebration of life will be scheduled at a later date.  

Online condolences can be sent to the family at kingwoodfuneralhome@mtnfg.com.

Kingwood Funeral Home is honored to serve the Kelly family.

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