Ike Kelley Jr., a longtime activist in Colorado Republican politics, died at his Denver home on June 26. He was 63.
Services will be today at Shorter African Methodist Episcopal Church, at Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and Richard Allen Court.
Kelley had been in “relatively good health,” said his daughter Vanessa Kelley of Denver. She said her father died of a heart attack.
Kelley was an official with the regional Housing and Urban Development Office here for four years in the Reagan administration and four years in the George H.W. Bush administration. He was executive assistant to the regional administrator.
He was president of Kelco, a janitorial firm, and earlier had sold life insurance and worked in communications for Monfort of Colorado.
Kelley was active in both the Denver and Arapahoe County Republican parties.
“He loved politics and had friends in both parties,” said his wife, Beverly.
“He was a real political animal and had an insight into candidates,” said Mort Marks of Arapahoe County.
Kelley vied unsuccessfully for several offices. He ran to be the nominee for lieutenant governor and ran for Denver City Council twice, including the last election.
“He was a huge people person,” said Vanessa Kelley. “When he said, ‘How are you?’ he listened to the person.”
Isaiah Kelley Jr. was born in Sumter, S.C., and graduated from Columbus High School in Columbus, Ohio. He earned a bachelor’s degree in public administration and public relations from Colorado State University in Fort Collins.
He married Beverly Stallworth on Oct. 28, 1972.
He was vice president of the National Forum of Black Public Administrators in this region and was on the board of directors of the Lincoln Club of Colorado.
In addition to his wife and daughter, he is survived by two other daughters, Krystal Kelley of Fort Collins and Lauren Kelley of Denver; two sons, Brandon Kelley of Denver and Isaiah Kelley III of Mesa, Ariz.; and seven grandchildren.
He also is survived by two sisters, pastor Ella Flowers of Memphis, Tenn., and Michelle Kelley of Columbus; and three brothers, Dwayne Kelley of Arlington, Texas, Richard Kelley of Dallas and Jerome Kelley of Columbus.
Virginia Culver: 303-954-1223 or vculver@denverpost.com
