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Maitland M. Kelley, my 98 year old father, passed away on June 12, 2012, after suffering a stroke 12 days earlier.

In his time, he was a railroad conductor, a skilled woodworker, a hunter, a gardener and a chef.  He was a ballroom dancer and fancied himself a gentleman.  The man from Caribou, MN, loved hiking through the deep woods with nothing but a bandana to swat away the mosquitoes.

But most of all, he was a family man.  A screaming infant would fall asleep in his arms and every non-working moment was devoted to loving and entertaining his wife and 6 children. 

His death was a deeply spiritual and inspirational time.  I was awed by the strength he showed in his final 12 days.  He was a brave man whose last act was to comfort his children by moving on to eternal life with grace.

I was trying to think about how he would want to be remembered.  The family danced while we washed dishes and we danced while we swept floors.  So I hope you will all be inspired to dance!  Waltz with your loved one or do the hokey-pokey with a friend.  But please, just dance!