Peter James "Jamie" Kelly

On Thursday, Aug. 7, 2014, the world lost a beautiful soul. We lost a passionate jazz pianist, a gifted writer and journalist, a comic, a philosopher, a budding but brilliant paralegal, and baseball certainly lost its biggest fan. His family lost a loving son, brother, uncle, nephew and cousin. His many friends lost an important piece of their lives. His father gained a sidekick in heaven. Jamie left this world to be with his dad and his God and to dwell in a place of great beauty and joy where there is no darkness or pain.

Jamie was born May 10, 1968, in Helena, but spent most of his life in Missoula, a city that was his heart's home.

He inherited his love for baseball from his dad and shared it with his brothers. His days as a Little League pitcher were some of the most joyous of his life. He considered baseball to be a perfect, almost mystical game.

As a freshman in high school, he discovered the piano and from the moment his fingers first touched the keys, it became his. Anyone who saw Jamie perform could see that Jamie brought all of himself into his music and to hear him play was a gift.

Jamie's love of music was nearly matched by his love of writing. He was a graduate of the University of Montana School of Journalism. He enjoyed a long career at the Missoulian as a copy editor, reporter, and most famously for his memorable and thought-provoking column, "Fatuous Twaddle," which inspired laughter, tears and even sometimes anger from his loyal readers.

He had a lifelong thirst for knowledge, and the joy he received from learning drove him most recently to return to UM in pursuit of a paralegal degree and a new career chapter in his life. In May, he graduated at the top of his class. Proudly earning the recommendation of his professors, he recently began working for the St. Peter Law firm, a job of which he was very proud.

Though brief, Jamie's marriage to his good friend, Helena Vlasto, was a very important part of his life and his love for her and her family never faded.

A few years ago, Jamie's life was transformed when he walked through the doors of First Presbyterian Church to write a story about the dedication of a memorial to Pastor John Maclean from the famed "A River Runs Through It." From that day forward, he found a spiritual home and a second family that brought great comfort to his life. He recently and proudly served as a church deacon, frequently offering his musical talents to the congregation and the community.

Jamie was preceded in death by his cousin Danny, and his father Pete.

Survivors include his mother, Helen; his sister, Kristin English (Andy); his brothers, Todd Kelly (Kirsten) and Brent Kelly (Lynn); nieces Amy (Amos) Foote (Jake), Kaitlin (Kaitley-poo) Armerding (Seth), Maren "Mar-Mar" Kelly and Shey "Sheybug" Kelly; nephews Jordan "Jor-Man" English and Connor "Con-Man" Kelly; and numerous aunts, uncles, cousins and his beloved cocker spaniel, Milo.

A celebration of Jamie's life will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, Aug. 15, at the First Presbyterian Church in Missoula. Anyone wishing to share their stories or memories of Jamie is asked to please email them to jamieinmissoula@hotmail.com. We would love to share some of those stories at his memorial service.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorials be made to First Presbyterian Church Helping Hands at 235 S. Fifth St. W., Missoula, MT 59801
Read Peter Kelly's Obituary and Guestbook on www.missoulafuneralhomes.com.