Patrick Michael Kelley died December 20, 2011, of injuries suffered in an automobile accident. It was his 18th birthday.
Patrick was a senior at Gainesville High School. His passion was music. He was a member of the Gainesville High School Marching Band-the Big Red Machine, where the members affectionately called him "Patty Cakes." For the last two years he was the Brass Section Leader. He played the Euphonium for the band and was selected for both the 9th District Honor Band and the Georgia All State Band four years in a row.
In addition to performing with the band, Patrick was an accomplished cellist. Patrick played cello for over ten years, performing with both the Gwinnett County Community Orchestra and the Gainesville Youth Orchestra. He earned straight superior ratings for nine years in the Northeast Georgia String Festival.
Patrick was involved in many other activities. At GHS he was involved in the Spanish Club (President), Spanish Honor Society, Key Club (Mentoring Director), Environmental Awareness Club, Debate Team, and Academic Bowl Team. He was a part of the 2011 Region Championship Academic Bowl Team. In 2010 he was selected to participate in the Governor's Honors Program in Mathematics. As a participant he spent six weeks with over 600 of Georgia's brightest high school students. In 2011 he won the Jackson EMC Energy Bowl and participated as one of Jackson EMC's delegates to the 2011 Washington Youth Tour.
Outside of school Patrick was involved in many activities. He was the Senior Patrol Leader of Boy Scout Troop 242 and had just completed the requirements for Eagle Scout. In 2009 he was a member of the Troop 242 Philmont Crew, where he backpacked over 80 miles through the mountains of Northern New Mexico.
Patrick was active with Grace Episcopal Church. He traveled with the youth group to Washington, D.C., New Orleans, and on a ten-day pilgrimage to Spain. While a member of the youth group he was selected to give the 2010 Youth Sunday sermon. He served as a Lay Eucharistic Minister, helping serve communion on many Sundays. He was also a part of the Grace Episcopal Church's Spelling Bee Team, helping raise money for the Alliance for Literacy and winning the Spelling Bee once.
Patrick was actively applying to colleges to further his education. He learned in November that he had been accepted to Georgia Tech. Tech had further selected him as a semi-finalist in the competition for the Georgia Tech Presidential Scholarship. His dream, though, was to attend MIT. He applied early admission to MIT, but had been told he was deferred and would be considered again in March 2012.
Beyond school and music Patrick enjoyed snow skiing and water skiing. He also enjoyed playing chess and bridge.
Patrick is survived by his parents, Charles and Cheryl Kelley, his brothers, Christopher and Andrew Kelley, and his grandparents, Neil and Allene Kelley and Sid and Karen Harmon. He was preceded in death by his grandmother, Molly Kelley.
A memorial service will be held at Grace Episcopal Church, Gainesville, Georgia, at 11:00 a.m. on December 23, 2011. There will be a reception immediately following the service.
In lieu of flowers the family asks that you make contributions to the Gainesville High School Band, c/o North Georgia Community Foundation, 615-A Oak Street, Suite 1300, Gainesville, Georgia 30501.
Those wishing to send online condolences may do so at littledavenport.com
Little & Davenport Funeral Home, 355 Dawsonville Highway, S.W., Gainesville, Ga. 30501 is in charge of arrangements.
