Obituary for Kelly Irving Behymer
KELLY IRVING BEHYMER
NOVEMBER 30, 1942 - APRIL 27, 2020
Kelly Irving Behymer, born on November 30, 1942 in Omak, Washington, passed away on April 27, 2020, after a brief battle with Alzheimer’s Disease and dehydration, at age 77.
He is survived by his wife of 40 years, Josefina Behymer; daughter, Niki Nelson; and grandchildren, Hannah and Wyatt.
Kelly served in the United States Air Force and the Air National Guard, retiring in Coupeville, Washington on Whidbey Island as a manufacturer and laborer. He once was regarded by an employer as ‘everyone’s model for an employee.’ He loved books, magazines, and video of all kinds with passion, and was an avid collector of military memorabilia specifically.
Kelly was a very towering person; Josefina dearly called him “Dad,” describing him as a very simple, quiet, personable “gentle giant,” whom she will miss very much. Kelly would help Josefina prepare holiday pies, peeled apples for her, and functioned as her official food taster (his favorite job). During election years like this, he would often debate the hot topics with her, although she suspects they were of the same party.
Kelly and Josefina worked well together as ‘homebodies’ and on ‘good days,’ they would go to the movies and have his favorite dinner date of fish and chips. Often, he would drag his chair outside to watch the aerial jets doing their practice runs from base, exclaiming there was no need to pay to go see an airshow, since it happened frequently off the back porch.
A Memorial Service with Military Honors will be held at Wallin Funeral Home on Friday, September 11, 2020 at 2pm. The service will be live broadcast on Wallin Funeral Home’s facebook page for those unable to travel to attend. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Kelly’s name to the Alzheimer’s Association.
NOVEMBER 30, 1942 - APRIL 27, 2020
Kelly Irving Behymer, born on November 30, 1942 in Omak, Washington, passed away on April 27, 2020, after a brief battle with Alzheimer’s Disease and dehydration, at age 77.
He is survived by his wife of 40 years, Josefina Behymer; daughter, Niki Nelson; and grandchildren, Hannah and Wyatt.
Kelly served in the United States Air Force and the Air National Guard, retiring in Coupeville, Washington on Whidbey Island as a manufacturer and laborer. He once was regarded by an employer as ‘everyone’s model for an employee.’ He loved books, magazines, and video of all kinds with passion, and was an avid collector of military memorabilia specifically.
Kelly was a very towering person; Josefina dearly called him “Dad,” describing him as a very simple, quiet, personable “gentle giant,” whom she will miss very much. Kelly would help Josefina prepare holiday pies, peeled apples for her, and functioned as her official food taster (his favorite job). During election years like this, he would often debate the hot topics with her, although she suspects they were of the same party.
Kelly and Josefina worked well together as ‘homebodies’ and on ‘good days,’ they would go to the movies and have his favorite dinner date of fish and chips. Often, he would drag his chair outside to watch the aerial jets doing their practice runs from base, exclaiming there was no need to pay to go see an airshow, since it happened frequently off the back porch.
A Memorial Service with Military Honors will be held at Wallin Funeral Home on Friday, September 11, 2020 at 2pm. The service will be live broadcast on Wallin Funeral Home’s facebook page for those unable to travel to attend. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Kelly’s name to the Alzheimer’s Association.