Charles Kristian Kelly

Charles (Charlie) Kelly, 52, of Astoria, Oregon, died Tuesday, April 5, 2016, on Youngs River from a drowning accident.

Charlie was born Dec. 9, 1963, in Astoria, to David Kelly and Margie Kelly. He grew up in Olney, Oregon, with his mother and stepfather, Hal Hankel Jr.

Charlie attended Olney School where his grandmother Evelyn Hankel was principal; he then graduated from Astoria High School in 1982. When he was a junior in high school, he went to work for Van Dusen Beverages in Astoria, where he worked until 1989. Then, at age 25, he went to work on the F/V Arrow, which is owned by his father David Kelly. He later became captain of the F/V Arrow, and ran the boat as such until present. In the off seasons from the Arrow, he fished with his Uncle Willie Perry.

On April 29, 1992, in Astoria, Charlie was blessed with his first child, Jacob Kelly. On Sept. 9, 1997, in Seattle, Charlie was blessed with a second child, Savannah Kelly. Jake and Savannah spent most of their childhood in the Tillamook area, attending Neah-Kah-Nie schools.

In December 2000, he started dating Tami Griffis, and shortly thereafter made the commitment to be life partners, and they have been for the last 15 years. In 2004 they built a home together in Olney, not far from where Charlie grew up. She survives and lives at their home in Olney.

When Charlie was 16 years old, family member Tom Alfonse taught him how to rebuild cars. Tom spent many hours with Charlie at his parents’ home on Irving Avenue in Astoria, working with him on his 1970 Chevelle. This is when Charlie’s love for working on classic cars started, and carried through his adult life. In the last five years, Charlie has spent many hours with his best friend Kelly Culver working on their classic cars in their shops.

The property Charlie grew up on is next to the Klatskanie Fish Hatchery. Charlie spent many hours and days on the N. Klatskanie River fishing for salmon, steelhead and anything else he could catch. Charlie’s older brother Pat would often go up to the house and make Charlie a peanut butter sandwich, so he would eat, as Charlie would not leave the creek.

This is where Charlie’s love of fishing and peanut butter sandwiches began. To this day, Andy Schneider and Joel Midkiff from the F/V Arrow can vouch for the fact Charlie ate a lot of peanut butter sandwiches. His brother Tim can tell you he would eat no other peanut butter but Creamy Jiff. Tim was on the Arrow one year and purchased an off-brand of peanut butter, and well, let’s just say it was never seen on the boat again!

Anyone who knows Charlie Kelly also knows he was an avid hunter, as he should be, he was taught by the best; his dad Hal Hankel Jr. He took the tools that his dad gave him and perfected them. In turn, Charlie mentored other kids in Olney like Brad Culver, Nathan Hannah and of course, his children, nieces and nephews. The kids he mentored were not only taught how to shoot, they learned hunting safety, as well. He loved sharing hunting and fishing with his friends and family. During hunting season, Charlie was the most popular guy in town.

In addition to his partner in life Tami Griffis, and parents Hal and Margie Hankel, he is survived by his father David Kelly and his wife Valerie, son Jacob Kelly, daughter Savannah Kelly, brother Tim Hankel, with whom Charlie had a very special relationship, sister Darcy High, half-brother Blaine Kelly, nephews Derek Hankel, Tristan Hankel and Boone Kelly, nieces Brittany Hankel, Johanna Hankel, Kelsi High, Sady Kelly and Brianna Scarborough, mother in-law Judy Griffis, sisters-in-law Sheri Hankel, Tacy Kelly and Trisha Scarborough, brother-in-law John Scarborough, and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins. Charlie is preceded in death by his older brother Pat in 2015, and his little brother Matt in 2005.

A celebration of life will be held from 12 to 2 p.m. Saturday, May 7, 2016, at the Elks Lodge in downtown Astoria.

Caldwell’s Luce-Layton Mortuary was in charge of the arrangements. Please sign our online guest book at www.caldwellsmortuary.com

Donations can be made to Clatsop County Sheriff’s Department Underwater Recovery Team at P.O. Box 658, Astoria OR 97103.

God knows the State Police retirement fund that Charlie so generously donated to for several years will be needing some help! lol