MARTINS FERRY — Thomas “Tom” Kelly, a man dedicated to the community of Martins Ferry, is being remembered by his friends, family and coworkers for his laugh, his ability to make people smile and for helping anyone who needed it.

Kelly died Sept. 4 at age 60 at Liza’s Place Valley Hospice South in Wheeling after a battle with cancer. In his time employed with the city, he worked as the street superintendent, meter reader and most recently as assistant water superintendent. He served as chief of the Martins Ferry Volunteer Fire Department, with his most recent term ending in 2023.

Kelly was also a member of St. Mary Catholic Church and a former employee of Crummitt Vault Co. and Heslop Funeral Home. He was a member of Liberty Fire Company and a commander of the Sons of the American Legion Post 38.

Kelly was born April 25, 1964, in Martins Ferry. Kelly’s daughter Kaylynn Yates remembered her dad in a Facebook post.

“Oh my sweet dad,” she wrote upon his death. “There is never enough time to prepare you for losing someone you love, especially a parent.”

Yates recalled her father’s kindness and helpfulness to everyone he met. She wrote about her time with him giving him fudgesicles, making him Icees, making him dinner and hearing her children yell, “Pappy!” every time they heard his car door open, and she is sure they will remember their grandfather forever.

Yates expressed hope that Kelly can finally rest comfortably and “enjoy an ice cold Bud Light” while waiting for the day when she will see him again.

“I know how hard you fought,” Yates wrote. “I know how much pain you were in, but for how much pain, you never ever ever seemed to complain. You helped every single person. You made sure everyone was taken care of. You were one of a kind. You were the Chief.”

She ended the post with, “I love you forever and always,” and signed her nickname, “Pumpkin.”

Kelly also made a big impact on the city, and one friend and colleague who remembers him for his “belly laugh” is Council President Kristine Davis.

“I’m going to miss him and his laugh,” she said, “that big, full out belly laugh he had. He was a good man.”

Davis said Kelly was a happy influence for the community. In an event or situation where he thought he had something to offer, he was willing to help and did.

Davis said Kelly’s biggest impact was that when he saw a need in the community, he would be there to help meet it.

“He was so proud of that position,” she said. “He was proud that he was street superintendent and felt like he was doing one of those jobs where people would see a difference. It might not have been a big thing sometimes, but you come out and see that pothole that drove you crazy, Tom took care of it. That was Tom.”

Davis remembers most that when she decided to run for council, Kelly came to her with support and encouragement.

“He was a good worker,” she said. “He was a good friend. He had a big heart, but Tom always wanted to help. He wanted to serve, and he took responsibility so seriously.”

Davis said his coworkers knew they could count on Kelly to show up for his positions in the city.

Another colleague of Kelly’s from the Martins Ferry Volunteer Fire Department is current Chief II Justin Smith, who remembers his friend for being the life of the party. Smith said everyone in the city knew who Kelly, or “Hawk” as he was fondly called, was and if they didn’t know his name they knew his face.

Smith said watching Kelly through the fire department and how he handled himself on calls and with other duties helped him learn valuable lessons for being fire chief himself. He said because Kelly volunteered his time at the fire department as a chief, Kelly made a big difference in the community.

“I don’t think people anywhere throughout the United States understand the commitment it takes to be a volunteer,” Smith said.”Especially being a chief — the amount of hours and out-of-sight out-of-mind things that take place, and Tom certainly did that in his time as chief. Not only as chief, but as he was a regular firefighter as well.”

Smith grew up with Kelly as a family friend, and one of his favorite memories is going to bowling tournaments as a child with Kelly.

“Anytime he was around you, he was making you laugh,” Smith said. “That’s the best thing I can say.”

Smith said it’s going to be hard at the fire department without Kelly, but Kelly wouldn’t want the firefighters to reflect on him not being there. Instead, he would want them to look forward and move the Martins Ferry VFD ahead.

Smith said one of his goals in being a chief is to make all of the fire department’s past members proud.

“He was a true value to the city of Martins Ferry and Martins Ferry fire department,” Smith said of Kelley, “and he truly will be missed.”

City Auditor Jack Regis Sr. also remembers his friend Kelly’s time with the city. Regis said Kelly was one of those people who treated others the way he wanted to be treated, with kindness and a desire to help. He said Kelly was always ready to lend a helping hand.

Regis remembers Kelly’s smile and how he always lit up the area he walked into.

“He was a good person, always willing to try to do something for somebody else,” Regis said. “He worked for the city eight hours a day, and then he volunteered for the fire department and worked as fire chief. He was always very community minded and very proud of our community.”

Regis said Kelly impacted the community by leaving the place better than he found it, and everything he touched he left it better than when he first started.

“He wasn’t the guy to just accept the status quo,” Regis said. “He always wanted to get better.”

Regis said Kelly was a good person who is going to be missed by everybody who knew him. He described Kelly as a “good, friendly person” to people who didn’t know him personally.

“He was always there to help somebody and to pick them up,” Regis said. “I think his highlights were of his caring for other people. He just cared, and he was that type of person.”

In addition to Yates, Kelly is survived by wife Leslie (Cash) Kelly, son Jason (Jamie) Cash and six grandchildren. A memorial service was held Sept. 7 at Wilson Funeral Home Heslop Chapel in Martins Ferry. Fire department services were held Sept. 6 at the funeral home. Memorial contributions can be made to either Valley Hospice or the Martins Ferry VFD.