Payson Roundup

Butch Kelly of Tonto Basin and Tempe died March 13, 2010 at the age of 67. He was born May 30, 1943 in Muscatine, Iowa. 
He worked with his father at his family’s alternator shop, and met his wife, Wendy, in 1964 while they were serving in the Air Force. They were married and raised two boys and have four grandchildren.
Mr. Kelly was a founding member of the Tonto Basin Fire District and he served as a volunteer for 21 years. He was an EMT and, from 1994-2001, he ran a fire cadet program in Tonto Basin, training area teenagers. He was also instrumental in getting much-needed equipment donated from other Arizona fire districts.
In 1967, the Kellys bought property on the east side of the creek and in 1998 they became permanent residents of Tonto Basin and traveled to the Valley every day for work. They were looking forward to retiring.
In 1991, the couple donated land on the east side of Tonto Creek so that there could be a fire station on the east side.
Butch is survived by his wife Wendy of Tonto Basin, Ariz. and his two sons, daughters-in-law and grandchildren: Chris and Valerie Kelly and grandchildren Marshall and Daniel of Fritch, Texas; and Scott and Kathleen Kelly and grandchildren Matthew and Dakota of Tempe, Ariz.
“Butch will be truly missed by everyone that had the honor in knowing him,” writes his family.

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