Erec Allan Kelly

Erec Allan Kelly, 74, passed away peacefully at his home with his wife, Jane, by his side after a long journey with Lewy body dementia.

Erec was born September 21, 1952, in Asheville, North Carolina, to Duward Edward “Ed” Kelly and Anna Belle Harris Kelly. He grew up in Black Mountain, North Carolina, a place that remained part of his heart throughout his life. As a young man, he moved to Texas to live with his sister and brother-in-law and graduated from Borger High School in 1971.

In 1972, Erec enlisted in the United States Army and served during the Vietnam era. Following his military service, he continued his education at West Texas State University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in Industrial Technology. College gave him more than a degree, however—it was there that he met Jane Bachman. Erec and Jane married on December 27, 1976, beginning a marriage that would span nearly 50 years and take them from Texas to New Mexico, Colorado, and Kansas before bringing them back to Colorado.

An entrepreneur at heart and a man who was happiest working outdoors, Erec owned Kelly Landscape Company in Texas and New Mexico for 25 years. He had a gift for taking a piece of ground and seeing what it could become, then putting in the hard work to make it beautiful.

By 2003, the mountains were calling, and Erec and Jane answered. They moved to the Montrose area of Colorado, where Erec worked for the National Park Service at Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park. They later spent a year in Kansas before returning to Colorado and eventually making their home in the Orchard City area. Erec joined the VA health care system in Grand Junction, working in Financial Recovery until his retirement in 2020. Erec and Jane have called the Orchard City area home for the past 17 years.

Erec was never particularly interested in sitting still when there was something to do outside. Over the years, his adventures included tournament bass fishing in Texas, hunting and fishing in Texas and New Mexico, skiing, four-wheeling, hiking, camping, golfing, and gardening in Colorado. Some of his favorite places were Red River, Taos Ski Valley, and Conchas Reservoir in New Mexico. If there were mountains nearby, fish to catch, a trail to explore, a garden to tend, or some project that needed doing, Erec was generally happy.

And then there was Erec’s sense of humor.

He always seemed to have a quick joke or smart comment ready, usually delivered for the simple pleasure of making someone smile or laugh. Waitresses—and just about anyone else who innocently asked, “Can I get you anything?”—learned that Erec had a standard request: “A sack full of hundreds.” He was also known to ask a particularly serious-looking person helping him to smile. When they finally did and made eye contact, they were met by Erec’s big blue eyes smiling right back at them.

His family knew the humor especially well. There was “Off like a herd of turtles,” along with any number of comments designed to keep all the boys from taking themselves too seriously. He told all the boys that they would melt if they went out in the rain—and made sure to clarify that it wasn’t because they were made of sugar.

That generous spirit extended well beyond a smile or a joke. Erec supported causes that touched his heart, particularly disaster relief, Christian mission work, and organizations serving veterans. When he saw people in need or a cause he believed in, he wanted to help.

Erec wasn’t a man who needed a large circle around him. He loved home and was perfectly content there—so much so that those closest to him might say he could happily have been a hermit. But the relationships he did hold close mattered deeply. Two friendships that began in high school endured throughout his lifetime, a testament to the loyalty beneath his quiet nature.

Perhaps some of the most meaningful moments with Erec were the quiet ones. His sons remember the shared silences—in the car, in the fishing boat, or simply being outdoors together. There didn’t always have to be conversation. There was a lot said in the silence.

And sometimes, when Erec did say something, it stayed with you. He told all the boys that aspens were one of the few trees that “talked” when the wind blew through them. It is hard to imagine that anyone in his family will ever hear the leaves of an aspen rustling again without thinking of him.

Erec was immensely proud of his boys and loved them deeply, although he wasn’t always a man who put those feelings into words. That made the words especially meaningful when he did. For one son, among all the jokes and smart comments his dad made over the years, the words that remain the most precious are very simple: “I’m proud of you, son.”

He enjoyed his grandchildren, often relating to them in the way that came most naturally to him—with a little teasing.

For Jane, Erec was much more than a husband. He was her rock, her comforter, her encourager, and her best friend. They genuinely enjoyed simply being together. They could talk and laugh, travel, and explore, or sit together for hours without saying much of anything. They didn’t need to fill the silence. After nearly 50 years of marriage, home wasn’t simply a place Erec loved. Home was where Jane was.

Erec also had a soft spot for his dogs. Six special companions shared his life through the years: Zipper, Lady, Sage, Simba, Daisy, and Buttercup. Each held a special place in his heart and in the Kelly family story.

Erec is survived by his wife, Jane Kelly of Orchard City, Colorado; his children, Erec Clint Kelly and Tiffany of Peralta, New Mexico; Lance Allan Kelly and Devin of Lombard, Illinois; Zachary Sean Kelly and Danett of Tega Cay, South Carolina; and Mundy Dawn Garcia and her husband, Tim. He also leaves nine grandchildren and the joyful anticipation of a great-grandson on the way.

Erec is also survived by his sister, Dana Kelly Redus and her husband, Cleve; and his brother, Edward Kelly and his wife, Joy.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Ed and Anna Belle Kelly; his brother, Jerome Kelly; nephews J. L. Kelly and Wayne Kelly; and niece Anna Kelly.

Cremation has taken place. A military funeral and celebration of Erec’s life will be held in the summer of 2027 in Black Mountain, North Carolina, with burial at Western Carolina State Veterans Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Erec’s memory to Samaritan’s Purse, P.O. Box 3000, Boone, NC 28607.

Erec’s life covered a lot of ground—from the mountains of North Carolina to Texas, New Mexico, Colorado, and Kansas; from soldier to student, husband, father, businessman, outdoorsman, and grandfather. But those who loved him will remember something much simpler: Erec could work hard, play hard, tease mercilessly, give generously, love deeply, and leave behind a story worth telling.

And should anyone happen to have that sack full of hundreds he spent all those years asking for, his family would probably still be happy to accept it on his behalf.