Joseph A. O’Kelley passed away at his home in Lake Havasu, Ariz., Jan. 23 from natural causes.

He was born July 14, 1934, in El Paso, Texas, to Joseph Archie and Hazel Inez O’Kelley. The family moved to San Luis Obispo, Calif., in the early days of WWII. He graduated from San Luis High in June of 1952. On his 18th birthday, he joined the Marine Corp. He was assigned to the Marines 1st Division and served active duty in the Korean War (“Oorah”). He was honorably discharged in July 1955.

He returned to San Luis and worked in the family business, O’Kelley and Son Paving. He sold the business in 1974 to follow a lifelong dream to own a cattle ranch in Montana. He reunited with his lifetime love and childhood sweetheart, Jane Weaver, in 1985, and they married in 1986. They made their home in Oak Harbor, Wash. They were blessed with 25 years of marriage until her death in 2011. He resided his last years in Lake Havasu but never recovered from the loss of his beloved wife.

He is survived by two children, Molly (Jim) Pfennigs of Lake Havasu, and Patrick (Vickie) O’Kelley of Frenchtown, Mont.; his sister, Bertha Jane (Clyde) of San Luis Obispo; seven grandchildren and one great-grandchild. He was proceeded in death by his parents, loving wife and his best friend, Mike Mahaly. He will be interred in Oak Harbor with his wife. Graveside services will be announced at a later date.

He will be missed dearly by his family and friends.