Obituary of Kelly Harrison Westra

Biography Kelly Dee Harrison was born on January 24, 1964 the third child of Norma Jean (Meyers) and Milton Clark Harrison. You would have never guessed by her trademark red hair and fiery personality that she was such a calm well behaved baby. Her mother would go in to check on her and find her calmly with her feet on the wall smiling and jabbering to herself. As a young child you could bet that whatever kind of class or group there was, Kelly would want to be in it. She took on dance classes, gymnastics, competitive swimming and anything else that might come along and gave it her all. She kept her mother running at full tilt to stay ahead of her. She began taking guitar lessons with Rudy Schlichenmayer, we’re not sure how good she ever got at the guitar but she loved her time with Rudy. As she grew older, sports and friends were the center of her life. There really wasn’t much that she tried that she didn’t work at until she was good at it. She loved playing volleyball, basketball and especially running with her friends, cruising main, trips to the lake or torturing some young man that might have taken a shine to her. It was all just fun in Kelly’s eyes. She spent several years in her youth as a lifeguard at the pool; this suited her well as she loved the sun and being around people. She also spent time as a grocery sacker at Red Front Market and there again added a multitude of friends that she thought the world of. Kelly graduated in 1982 from Burlington High School with a group of kids that were so much more than classmates. They were people that she knew she could depend on and loved the occasion to get together. After high school she attended Northwest Kansas Vocational School in Goodland Kansas and became a Cosmetologist which began her 23 year career. She began her career in Burlington cutting hair at the Main Attraction’s beauty salon where the girls took her under their wing helping her down a road that was financially fulfilling as well as rewarding with the people she met as coworkers and her clients. She moved to Denver in 1985 moving in with Aunt Joy and Uncle Calvin. There she tested their patience going out having a really, really good time and then coming home leaving her alarm clock go for hours on end never hearing it. Thank you Uncle Calvin for not setting her out in the street! In due time, she got her own apartment where glory be to God she went from being a walking tornado to one of the tidiest people you would ever meet. Though we all wondered what she actually ate because for several years all that was in her refrigerator was the same bottle of ketchup and same jar of pickles and nothing else. About this time her brother Bruce married Deanna and had their first son Landon, Oh my! Then, she became Aunt Kelly! There was nothing she wouldn’t do for Landon and then later Sterling! Kelly dated several people over the years and she may have liked them as friends, but none of them captured her heart. In October of 1996 on a blind date she met her match. Richard Westra, Uncle Rich. Rich was outgoing, fun loving, strong willed, adventurous and everything that Kelly needed to help her reach her full potential! Together you could never find a better team! On April 11, 1999 they were married in Sadalia Colorado. With Rich’s son Zac, they purchased a home together where Kelly put her touch on everything. She would take colors that you would go “You’re going to do what” and come up with things that you would just go “Wow that looks awesome” she just had that knack. Whatever Rich and Kelly set their minds to, you can bet it was going to get done! On the go, bicycling, boating, traveling, working on their home, that was what they loved. What they were together were best friends. They were the most caring couple anybody could ever meet. If there was something needing to be done, you can bet they would be there to pitch in and make it happen. Rich’s 20 year career with Channel 7 News provided her with many opportunities to fly with him. With this experience she occasionally was his backup camera operator. As Rich’s career with Channel 7 was winding down, they had the opportunity to fly the Boulder Fire where they were nominated for an Emmy and won a local award for her outstanding photo journalism. Rich’s flying and Kelly’s camera work showed the bond they shared as partners. This was the turning point for Kelly to step out of her comfort zone and try something new. Three years ago, doing hair, Kelly decided that standing on her feet 10 to 12 hours a day was beginning to wear her down. It was time to move on. Kelly was happy pursuing adventure and her relationship with Rich encouraged adventures. Air Technology Services provided this for both of them. Kelly was the president of Mile High Helicopter which owned an interest in ATS. ATS is a helicopter company that provides several services. The main one being leak detection for natural gas pipelines. Kelly came aboard and ran mapping and laser equipment as Rich would fly. She loved doing this and became the face of ATS in many ways. She took great pride in ATS and impacted its growth in many ways. With her involvement ATS was a better Company and all the people associated with the Company were better people. It was right up her alley, seeing new places, knowing that no two days were ever the same. That’s what she lived for. But mostly we think it was about being with Rich! Last Thursday, Kelly was in her zone flying a leak detection job near Meeker. She was smiling with the mapping and laser working at optimal efficiency. Tragically on November 3, 2010, Rich and Kelly caught a power line near Meeker Colorado. The helicopter went down killing Kelly instantly, but the lord spared us the torment of losing them both. Kelly always said she didn’t have many friends, we all know this was not true. Kelly touched everyone leaving a feeling they had met a true friend. All of our lives will be much emptier without her! Friends from her childhood, people she worked with, her bicycling buddies, sailing friends and all of us in her family will carry on and be more caring and giving for having known and loved her. Kelly would have no regrets; she lived her life to the fullest and would expect no less of all of us. In her honor let us all be more loving people with that adventurous spirit and truly embrace life! Kelly is survived by her Husband, Richard Westra of Centennial, CO and his son Zachariah Westra of Philadelphia, PA, her mother Norma (Meyers) Harrison of Burlington, CO, her brother Bruce Harrison, his wife Deanna, and Nephews, Landon and Sterling Harrison. She is also survived by Roland and Louise Westra, her mother and father in law. Kelly was preceded in death by her father, Milton Harrison, her infant brother Grant Harrison, her paternal grandparents Myron Harrison, wife Frieda (Speake) Harrison, and her maternal grandparents Elvaro (Shorty) Meyers, his wife Blanche (Elder) Meyers.