William Thomas Kelly Jr.

William Thomas Kelly, Jr. died on November 15, 2011. He was diagnosed with lung cancer in March. Born in Little Rock on August 25, 1942, Tom was the oldest of 14 children. He will be remembered for his irreverent wit, great intellect, strong will, and his embrace of each person he met. His adverturesome spirit and commitment to the dignity and rights of all humanity took him across the world. As an international development consultant, he walked the dirt paths that led to remote villages throughout Africa, Bangladesh, Russia, Nepal and Haiti to learn from the people what was most needed and how he could assist. He spoke their languages, ate what they ate, and slept where they slept, out of respect for their cultures and with a sense of wonder. Then he set out to make things happen. Wells were dug, small business and non-governmental organizations were established, houses and bridges were built, crops were planted and communities strengthened. Tom lived an invigorating and eventful life with family and friends from across the globe and in Washington, D.C., where he resided when not overseas. Survivors include his wife, Yangui Ke; his two sons, William Thomas III and Kevin Brennan and wife, Granetta Coleman; granddaughter, Shayla; his mother, Lucille Metrailer Kelly; stepfather, Dr. John Howard; and 12 brothers and sisters, Carolyn, Cornelia Beck, Paul, Lucille DeGostin, Margaret Lovell, Christine Frost, Marie Bennett, Frank, John, Joseph, Brian, and Michael, and their spouses, three aunts, as well as a multitude of cousins, nieces and nephews, and great-nieces and great-nephews. Tom was preceded in death by his father, William T. Kelly, and his sister, Kathleen Klein. Tom attended Our Lady of Good Counsel Elementary School and graduated from St. John's Seminary. He received a bachelor's degree in political science from University of Arkansas at Little Rock and a master's degree from the Thunderbird School of Global Management. After working for decades with the Peace Corps and numerous international aid organizations, Tom enjoyed a stint operating a poker table at a casino in Katmandu, continued working with aid organizations as an in-the-field contractor, and briefly worked at the Congressional Cemetery in Washington, D.C. Most recently, he helped establish a solar cooperative in his Mt. Pleasant neighborhood in Washington. The Memorial Mass will be Friday at 10 a.m. at Our Lady of Holy Souls Catholic Church. Burial will be private. The family requests that in lieu of flowers please make memorials to Step, 1838 Ingleside Terrace, NW, Washington, D.C. 20010 or go to www.stepup.st. Arrangements by Little Rock Funeral Home, 8801 Knoedl Ct., Little Rock, (501)224-2200. Tom's online guestbook may be signed at www.littlerockfuneralhome.com.