Obituary of Robert "Doug" Douglas Kelley

Robert Douglas Kelley, 80, crossed over on October 10, 2022 at his home in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Doug was lovingly surrounded and comforted by his children and care team, who held his hands as he died. He was born on June 7, 1942 to Melba Phyllis Williams and Lawrence Clair Kelley at St. Luke's Hospital in Denver, Colorado. Doug Kelley, as he was known, graduated in 1961 from Arvada Senior High School, and went on to receive his B.A. from Western State College of Colorado in Psychology/Sociology. Doug then studied at the School of Public Communication at Boston University, where he would earn an M.S. in Public Relations in 1967, as well as meet his beloved wife of fifty-four years, Donna Kaye Dollens, as she completed her M.Ed. They married in August, 1968. While at university at Western State, Doug worked tirelessly in restaurants and various summer jobs to fund his education, served as a Residence Hall Advisor for two years, and was elected Class and Student Body President. At Boston University, he was elected to Tau Mu Epsilon, the national honorary public relations society. After graduation, Doug worked for Boston University as the Assistant to the Dean of Men, and then as the Director of Publicity and Community Relations for Babson College in Massachusetts, as well as becoming the first full-time Director of Annual Giving at Babson. In 1972, Doug and Donna returned to the Denver area to help his family following the death of his father, settling in Englewood where he worked as the Development & Public Affairs Officer for the Graland Country Day School from 1972-1975, and where his son Kevin Douglas was born in 1974. Doug and Donna then moved to Donna's hometown of Franklin, Indiana where they owned a small weekly magazine called TV Facts, and Doug worked for Franklin College as the Director of Estate Planning. Daughter, Kristin Deanna, was born in 1976 and the family of four would later begin a series of moves across the country, as Doug, who fondly referred to himself as a "Professional Beggar," sought new, inspiring and exciting job ventures in a variety of non-profit sectors, to include positions as: the Vice President for University Relations at Alfred University in Alfred, New York (82-86); the Vice President and Director of Development at Pine Crest School in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida (86-88); the Vice President for Campbell and Company (88-94), first in South Florida (88-92), and then Columbus, Ohio (92-95); before bringing Doug home to Colorado in 1994, where he served as the National Fundraising Director for The United States Olympic Committee from 1994-1998. Doug then spent the next twenty-four years self-employed, and reveled in the freedom of being his own boss. This enabled him to participate in many important philanthropic groups in Colorado Springs, where he was honored time and again for his volunteer service. Self-employment also enabled him, importantly, to make time for his life's passion of exploring the world and going to as many countries as possible. By the time of his death, Doug had traveled to more than fifty countries, being particularly proud of ascending The Great Wall of China in 1990, and of climbing Africa's Mt. Kilimanjaro in 2005, both with his son Kevin, and for having reached the world's southernmost point of Cape Horn, which he did in 2018 as a solo traveler at the age of 75. Since 1999, Doug worked as an Independent Associate and Director as well as the Colorado Group Vice President and Group Trainer for Legal Shield. In the past two and a half decades, Doug spent his time supporting many organizations, including: the Southern Colorado Women's Chamber of Commerce, where he was given the honorary "Director's Award," for his exceptional service in 2014, and named "Member of the Year" in 2016; the COS Regional Business Alliance, where he was an "Ambassador Team Lead" in 2012, "Ambassador of the Year" in 2013, and was honored with the Director's Award for Service in 2014. He was an avid member of the Senior Resource Council; the Tri-Lakes Chamber of Commerce; the Better Business Bureau of Southern Colorado, who named him the Small Business Advocate of the Year in 2014. He was twice awarded (2011 & 2012) for the Volunteer Service Award by CAPS, the COS Community Advancing Public Safety, and an assortment of honors from the US Olympic Committee for his service, support and participation in the 1996 Atlanta Games and the 1998 Nagano Games, and so many more. Doug became a member of the Arvada Chapter of The Order of DeMolay in January of 1957 and received a Distinguished Service Award in 1960, followed by recognition as a Representative DeMolay in 1961, and ultimately holding the title of State Master Councilor of Colorado in 1965. Doug was honored in 2013 at the Arvada Lodge for fifty years of membership in the Masonic Fraternity and maintained his membership until died. He was also a lifelong member of The Publicity Club of Boston, and as the Director of Community Relations at Babson College. He was published in the "FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin," in October 1969 and The Kansas Law Enforcement Journal (vol. 21 no. 1, January-February 1970) with his research on New England's Command Training Institute and subsequent article entitled, "A Progressive Law Enforcement Training Program." He also served as President of the Greater Fort Lauderdale Chapter of the National Society for Fund Raising Executives (NSFRE) in 1990. Doug was known to most as a giving person who always had time to help others. His life was very much one of service, both in his professional and charitable endeavors, and personally for friends and neighbors, to such an extent that even as he succumbed to the ravages of cancer, he worried over his friends' hardships and disliked that he could no longer go and help where help was needed. He had a deep love for nature and wildlife, the great state of Colorado, Louis L'Amour, fellowshipping, dry humor and his family. He was preceded in death by his parents, Larry and Phyllis (Williams) Kelley; brother, John Kelley; parents-in-law, Bob and Viola Dollens; and brother-in-law, David Dollens. Doug is survived by his wife, Donna Kelley of Colorado Springs, Colorado; his son, Kevin of Dallas, Texas; and daughter, Kristin Strother of Colorado Springs, Colorado. Please consider a Memorial Contribution to Native Hope, www.nativehope.org. The family wishes to extend their gratitude to Gentle Shepherd Home Care, Colorado Hospice and Palliative Care, MacKenzie Place, the Springs Funeral Services, Chaplain Dan Wilson, Stellick Legacy Estate Services and Boston Consulting Group for the outpouring of care and support to each member of the Kelley Family. Memorial, 4:00PM-6:00PM, Friday, November 4, 2022, The Springs Funeral Services, 3115 East Platte Avenue, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80909. Events Memorial Service Friday, November 4, 2022 4:00PM - 6:00PM The Springs Funeral Services 3115 East Platte Avenue Colorado Springs, CO 80909 Phone: 719-207-8855