Kelly D. Fritz, Former Sitkan, Dies in Florida

Kelly D. Fritz

 

Kelly Dianne Fritz, 56, passed away at home in Sebring, Florida, on Thursday, January 23, 2020, surrounded by her loving husband and mother.
She was born in Sitka on June 2, 1963, to Patrick and Carol Ann Welsh.
Kelly is survived by her devoted husband and best friend of 16 years Jay Fritz; sons Patrick Kerley and David Carey both of Missouri; mother, Carol Ann Power of  Sebring; father, Patrick (Florence) Welsh of Sitka; sisters Karin Johnson of Washington,  Anna Maria Welsh of Minnesota, Cory Welsh of Sitka, adopted sister Rachel Ulrich of Sitka; step-brothers: Hal (Rosa) Power of Oklahoma, Sean (Marianne) Power of Missouri, Roy Uber of Sitka; and many aunts, uncles and cousins.
Kelly was preceded in death by both her maternal and paternal grandparents; brothers Ronnie Welsh, Marty Welsh, and John Paul Welsh of Sitka; and stepfather, Ross Power of Washington.
Kelly was a retired licensed registered nurse, a career she loved. She was a genuine homebody who enjoyed crafts, home decorating, making memories with family and friends to last a lifetime, and she loved animals, especially her own fur babies.
As a teenager, she was a much-appreciated Sitka Daily Sentinel carrier.
Friends and family describe her as a compassionate, caring, feisty, and a courageous woman who overcame many life challenges with a smile and determination.
 Kelly and Jay met at a Little Sturgis motorcycle rally in Kentucky, and they returned to that same rally to have 30,000 bikers witness their wedding.
Kelly was loved by all and will be greatly missed but never forgotten. A family celebration of her life to be held later. In lieu of flowers the family asks that a donation be made in Kelly’s memory to St. Jude’s Hospital.
Arrangements have been by Stephenson-Nelson Funeral Homes in Sebring. Online condolences can be sent to www.stephensonnelsonfh.com.

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20 YEARS AGO

May 2004

Photo caption: Jimmy Bracket, second mate of the new fast ferry Fairweather gives a tour of the $36 million ship to Sitkans Leslie Pellett and Jeff vonRekowski Thursday. The 235-foot ferry can carry 35 cars and 150 passengers, go as fast as 42 knots and consumes 560 gallons of fuel an hour.


50 YEARS AGO

May 1974

Two changes have been announced in the cruise ship schedules. The first ship to arrive in Sitka will be the Xanadu on May 26, and an additional voyage of the Arcadia will be on Sept. 21, which will mean two ships in port here at the same time: the Arcadia and the Spirit of London. Sitka will have two cruise ships in port on seven days this summer.

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