Kelly Simmons Westerfield

Kelly Simmons Westerfield (75) of Silver Cliff, Colorado, passed away on August 12th, 2024, after a brief illness. He was born at St. Francis Hospital in Colorado Springs on February 2nd, 1949, and was raised in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Kelly graduated from the New Mexico Military Institute in Roswell, New Mexico in 1967. He then joined the US Navy where he served for the next four years. During those years, he had the privilege of recovering the astronauts of the Apollo 11 and 12 missions while on the USS Hornet. After serving his country, Kelly attended the University of California in Long Beach and graduated in 1982. He spent his career as a civil servant with the Department of Defense until his retirement in 2005.

Kelly married Mary Lynn Brunner in Los Alamitos, California. Kelly and Mary continued to live in California for the next 15 years where they welcomed three of their four children. In 1986, Kelly moved his family to Colorado Springs, Colorado where they raised their children.

Kelly enjoyed spending time with his family by traveling and being a part of Indian Guides and Boy Scouts with his children. He loved dogs as well as trains, clocks, and science fiction.

Kelly is survived by his wife, Mary Lynn, his four children, Rachel, Sarah, Beth (Erik), and Tom, and his 11 grandchildren, T.J., Mariona, Avery, Kassidy, Aubrey, Brenna, Josiah, Daily, Jayda, Leah, and Loni. He is also survived by his brothers David, Patrick, and John and his sisters Mary Lou and Lynne.

No funeral services are planned but a Celebration of Life will be in the future. If inclined, please donate to your favorite charity.