Randal Clifford Kelley passed away in Port Townsend just two days before his 81st birthday.
Randal was born in El Paso, Texas, to James and Pauline Kelley. During childhood, Randal lived in New Mexico and California before the family moved to Woodburn, Oregon. Following high school in Woodburn, Randal enlisted in the US Navy and served for four years aboard the destroyer, Taussig. After his discharge from the navy, Randal went back to school and graduated from Western Oregon University.
Randal settled in the Salem, Oregon, area following graduation. He worked for a time as a social worker. He was proud of his achievements as the director of Cry of Love, a volunteer organization that included a medical clinic and legal aid services. Before moving to Port Townsend, Randal worked as an instructor at Chemeketa College in Salem.
In 1977, Randal married Penny (Keller) Abel. Early in 1978, he was hired to be the director of the Young Adult Conservation Corps, a program designed to provide work for young adults in national parks and forests. The program was housed at Fort Worden. Randal and Penny took a year’s leave of absence from their teaching jobs in Salem and moved to Port Townsend. They never went back to Salem When the YACC program was defunded, Randal returned to social work. He worked closely with the Port Townsend Police Department and the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department and was proud of his work as a police officer.
Randal loved sailing. He and Penny spent many weeks cruising the San Juan and Gulf Islands, Desolation Sound and beyond on sailboats Allegory and Grace O’Malley. He was also an avid racer. Randal belonged to the Port Townsend Yacht Club and was commodore in 1984. Randal’s other love was sports car racing. He raced his Mazda RX-7 throughout the Pacific Northwest.
Randal is survived by his wife, Penny, of Port Townsend; brother Craig (Evelyn) of Green Valley, Arizona; sons Kevin of Goldendale, Wa, and Ryan of Rickreal, Or.; step-daughter Jeni (Jim) of Port Townsend; grandchildren Joann, Forrest, and Jaden; and great grand daughter Ava.
Randal, we love you and miss you.
