Lorraine Charlotte Kelly

Lorraine Charlotte Kelly Lorraine Charlotte Kelly lost her valiant and lengthy battle with cancer at home in Shelton, WA surrounded by family on August 9, 2011. Lorraine was born to Ervin and Winnifred Wakeman on August 3, 1936 in Mason City, WA. Lorraine raised her 5 children in Ketchikan, Alaska. She also lived in Sitka, Juneau, and Anchorage for a total of 26 years in Alaska. She moved to Washington with her new husband, Tim Kelly in 1978. Tim brought 4 more children with him into Lorraine’s life.She began her work career as an admitting clerk at the Ketchikan General Hospital; when she left after 12 years in 1976, she was the director of social services. She began working for the Puget Sound Auto Auction in Auburn, WA when it opened starting out as a billing clerk. She was promoted to office manager and then became a factory manager for the auction. Lorraine was often requested by the corporate office to travel to other auctions around the US to train and trouble-shoot operations. She was asked to assist the auction in resolving several challenges after her retirement in 1996. Lorraine and Tim built a beautiful home at Dewatto Bay on Hood Canal that served as the gathering place for many family events coordinated by Lorraine for 20 years. Lorraine also was instrumental in getting electricity, telephone, and internet brought to this remote location for them and others. She also initiated and managed the Dewatto Road Association for 15 years.In retirement, she wrote a weekly article called the ‘Dewatto Doin’s’ for the Belfair Herald for six years. The legacy of her writings is a comfort to her family. She was also elected and served as commissioner for the Port of Dewatto for 6 years. Subsequent to completing her term, she was asked to serve the Port for another 4 years. Lorraine’s philosophy was family relationships are the most important element of life. Consequently, she was the glue that held a blended family together. Her ear and voice of reason was available to all who asked. She was always looking for new recipes and loved fixing family meals. Lorraine is survived by her husband Timothy R. Kelly, sister Lillian Fisher and her husband Wayne, brothers, Donald Wakeman and his wife, Gina, and Allen Wakeman and his wife, Sally, and children, Melody Douglas and her husband Denis, Kimberly Delany, Richard Schultz and his wife, Tanya, Joseph Schultz and his wife, Jolynn, Patrick Kelly, Jeff Kelly and his wife, Laurie, Dana Strobel and her husband, Travis, and Colleen Carlson and her husband, Lewis, and 17 grandchildren and 9 great-grandchildren. Lorraine was preceded in death by her parents, her brother Ervin Wakeman Jr., her son, Randy Erb, and her grandson, Jimmy Kelly. A Celebration of Life (potluck) is planned at the family home on September 24, 2011 beginning at noon; all family and friends are invited. In lieu flowers, donations may be made to cancer research of the donors’ choice.

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