KELLEY, Jenifer (Jen) Lind

The Daily Courier, Prescott, Arizona, Saturday, April 20, 2013 Dear family and friends, I'm Jen Kelley and I've chosen to write my own obituary. I want you to know a little bit about my life. I was born in Phoenix, Ariz., to Ernie and Bonnie Kelley. I moved to Prescott in 1974 with my family and I graduated from Prescott High School in 1986. During this time, I found a love for a crazy welsh pony-quarter horse who wanted nothing better than to have me land on the ground; hence his name was Bucky! After high school, I went to West Point Military Academy and graduated in 1991. During that time, I was the National Collegiate Power Lifting Champion. I could dead lift 365 pounds, squat 350 and bench press 185 pounds. I ultimately "bested" my bench-pressing record, as an adult, to 200 pounds and was named All-American, for three years, as Power Lifting Champion. I was also on the equestrian team. After serving in the military, I pursued a nursing career and became a surgical nurse with Yavapai Regional Medical Center, where I worked for the last 12 years. I am best known for my love of critters. I have a flock of geese, ducks and chickens, but my favorite critters are my dogs, Ness, Maddie, Uffda, Bika and Yolo. They are my best Rottweiler friends. I loved teaching them obedience. They received their Companion Dog titles so I could have them do therapy work in the hospitals where we cheered up sick patients. I also trained them to pull a cart just for the fun of it. Later, I taught them how to herd sheep, because it is part of their natural ability. I am survived by my parents; my brother Kris; my brother Doug and his wife Ann; my nephews, Jonathan, Daniel and Jakob; my niece Marissa; and my ex-husband, Tim Harrington, with whom I shared my life for 12 years. I would like to thank, in no particular order, Kelly Skurja, Tracy Blenker (Riddle), JoAnn Randolph and my awesome neighbors JoAnn Allegero, Ann Linch, Sara Werner and Andy and Caroline Erickson. I would also like to dearly thank my coworkers and doctors at YRMC East and West campuses. Furthermore, my thanks to hospice and the members of Grace Baptist Church, especially Pastor Wayne; and, of course, my loving thanks to my family. Love to all of you, Jenifer Lind Kelley Jen died March 27, 2013, at the Northern Arizona VA Hospice Center in Prescott. Our special thanks for the tender, loving care from her hospice nurses, Ann, Kelly, Irene and Patrick. Jen led a life of adventure and achievements. In 1986, as a senior at Prescott High School, she was the Gold Medal winner in shot put at the International Sports Festival in Austria. While serving in Panama, she ran a marathon, was a sky diver and a scuba diver and whit water rafted in Honduras. Her courage and stamina were steel-toed boots. Jen won a few battles, but lost the war to breast cancer. Jen was a gentle, loving spirit, but never backed down from a challenge. Jen's passing leaves a sadness in the hearts of many that will last a lifetime. There will be a committal service with military honors at 2 p.m. Monday, April 29, 2013, at the Prescott National Cemetery, Prescott, Ariz. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in Jen's memory to Yavapai Humane Society. Stand tall and walk straight our dear sweet Jenifer! Duty - Honor - Country. Information provided by the family.