Evan Michael Kelly, age 24 years, of Bethlehem Township, Hunterdon County, NJ, died on Thursday, July 13, 2017 at his home.

Born in Morristown, NJ, April 26, 1993, son of Vanessa (Roglen) Kelly of Bethlehem Township, NJ and James F. “Jim” Kelly of Hamilton Township, NJ, he was raised in New Providence, NJ before moving to Bethlehem Township at the age of five.

Evan was a 2011 graduate of North Hunterdon High School, Clinton Township, NJ and then attended Ithaca College. He had worked as a paralegal for Kelly & Associates, Annandale, NJ for several years.

Though the last several years of Evan’s life were marked by his personal battle with addiction,  the disease that accidentally claimed his physical life is not what defines his time spent on Earth or how he will be remembered. Passionate, caring, loving and fiercely loyal are the characteristics that come to the mind of anyone who knew Evan.

His love for friends and family was remarkable; his sense of family was a foundation that could not be moved and there was nothing he would not do to help his family. He and his brothers were extremely close, and he did his best to set an example for them of how to treat people with kindness and respect. He also saved his brother, Brendan’s life when the two were younger; during a hiking adventure, Evan caught Brendan as he was about to fall of a steep ledge. Evan risked his own life for Brendan’s.  Evan was enormously proud of his youngest brother Gregory who decided at an early age to serve others as a fire fighter, and EMT.  The  brotherly bond he shared with Brendan and Gregory will continue even though Evan’s soul has moved beyond this earth.

Hiking and the outdoors were part of Evan’s passions. He loved nature and all that came with it. From hiking to skiing, he was fearless. He also enjoyed basketball, music, running, x-box and other video games and simply just spending time with family and friends building strong relationships.

Astrologically a Taurus, Evan was a, “take the bull by the horns” type of personality who never liked to finish second and always pushed to do better. His smile immediately warmed any room he entered and his legacy of simply being kind is not one that will fade from the memory of those who knew this gentle soul.  Evan truly was a angel; he had an uncanny ability to put the needs of others before his own.

Though his time in this world may have been short, the impact he has made for the better is significant and so many have been enriched for knowing him. 

He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Andrew and Mary (Cokeley) Kelly.

Surviving, in addition to his parents, are two brothers, Brendan S. Kelly and Gregory M. Schwartz; two step-sisters, Jenelle Coit and Corinne Takach; his maternal grandmother, Marie F. Dow; his loving dogs, “Indie” and “Liberty”; several aunts, uncles and cousins; and many extended family and friends.

Funeral services officiated by Rev. Philip Bohdan Carr-Jones will take place Wednesday, July 19, 2017 at 10:00 a.m. in the Church of the Holy Spirit, 3 Haytown Road, Lebanon, NJ, under the care and direction of Wright & Ford Family Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 38 State Highway 31, Flemington, NJ. Private cremation will follow at Somerset Hills Memorial Park, Basking Ridge, NJ. Everyone is kindly asked to meet directly at the Church on Wednesday morning by 9:45 a.m.

Evan will lie in repose on Tuesday, July 18, 2017 from 5:00-8:00 p.m. in the funeral home.

Please visit Evan’s permanent memorial site at www.wrightfamily.com to send a public or private message of condolence and to share stories and photographs of his life. 

In lieu of flowers, those wishing to do something in Evan’s name are asked to make a contribution to: “Sky’s the Limit Fund” www.skysthelimitfund.org, in memory of Evan Michael Kelly, c/o Sobrato Center for Nonprofits, 510A Valley Way, Milpitas, CA 95035. The mission of Sky’s the Limit Fund (STLF) is to transform the lives of youth in crisis by providing grants, support, and hope through wilderness therapy programs and beyond. All monies donated in Evan’s memory will be used to help other at-risk adolescents and young adults and their families as they battle the terrible disease of addiction.