Theodore Thomas “Tom” McKelvie passed away peacefully at his home on a Tuesday at the age of 101 years, four months and 10 days, surrounded by loved ones. Tom was born in Collbran, Colorado to James Walton and Florence Petra McKelvie, the first of five boys. He went to Collbran Union High School, class of 1942, obtained his bachelor of science in political science from University of Utah in 1952, followed by completion of his master’s degree in business from Western State College in 1960.Tom enlisted in the U.S. Navy in November 1942 and served as a gunner’s mate on USS Cythera, which patrolled the Atlantic Coast between New York and Guantanamo Bay, Cuba and later on the USS LST-285. The USS LST- 285 was assigned to the European theater and participated in the invasion of Normandy in June 1944 and the invasion of Southern France in August 1944 as a landing boat and as a hospital transport. Having witnessed such monumental historical moments, he never took lightly the responsibility of his patriotism and political viewpoints.On June 25, 1950, Tom married Dorothy “Dot” LeVan McKelvie with whom he would spend the next 59 happy years. Tom and Dot moved to Gunnison in June 1956 after Tom became employed by Western State College as business manager and director of auxiliary enterprises. During this time, they were “blessed” with two daughters and one son. After Tom retired in 1986, he and Dot were able to spend more time traveling. They visited 38 of 50 states, took trips to Canada, Mexico and Israel and experienced a great deal of satisfaction viewing the beauty and diversity of scenery seen during these trips.Tom was initiated into the Masons by his father-in-law in 1954 ultimately earning the Grand Chapter Ritual Jewel, serving as Grand Commander of Knights Templar of Colorado, and obtaining the 33rd degree of Scottish Rite Freemasonry among many other achievements. His Masonic Orders included Blue Lodge Eastern Star and Grand Lodge AF & AM of Colorado where he served on the Benevolent Fund Scholarship Committee as Chairman and assisted in acquiring the marble capstone used at the DIA ceremony. The tenets of Masonry, honesty, integrity and tolerance and commitment to brotherhood, good citizenship and good works, were deeply meaningful to Tom and he embraced them in his everyday life.Tom was preceded in death by his parents, Walton and Florence, beloved wife, Dorothy and son, Douglas Bruce, and his brothers Donald, Douglas and Byron. He is survived by his daughters, Leigh Ann of La Junta, Colorado and Nancy of Gunnison, grandchildren Lindsey (Joe) Schlatter of Overland Park, Kansas, Jerry Rumburg of Gunnison, Katie Crawford of Gunnison, Megan Crawford of La Junta and his delightful great grandchildren, Clara, Teddy, and Dean Schlatter, Ella Rumburg, and Alden Crawford, and numerous nieces and nephews. His remaining brother, Burton, followed him in passing on Sept. 25, 2025.Tom was an exceptional human being who bestowed much whimsical humor, witticism, and wisdom on all he encountered. He possessed a wonderful natural curiosity, encouraging others to seek varied answers in life through literature, philosophy, science, and more. He never stopped learning and was generous with his wealth of knowledge. His memory was outstanding, recalling poetry he learned as a young man, remembering small details of lives of others, and remembering odd trivia that somehow always found itself to be relevant and necessary. We will miss you dear, beloved father, grandfather and great-grandfather. Our love for you remains forever in our memories.A celebration of life and potluck is planned for Sunday, Oct. 19 at 10 a.m. at the Western Colorado University Leslie J. Savage Library in the West Wing.
Theodore Thomas “Tom” McKelvie passed away peacefully at his home on a Tuesday at the age of 101 years, four months and 10 days, surrounded by loved ones. Tom was born in Collbran, Colorado to James Walton and Florence Petra McKelvie, the first of five boys. He went to Collbran Union High School, class of 1942, obtained his bachelor of science in political science from University of Utah in 1952, followed by completion of his master’s degree in business from Western State College in 1960.
Tom enlisted in the U.S. Navy in November 1942 and served as a gunner’s mate on USS Cythera, which patrolled the Atlantic Coast between New York and Guantanamo Bay, Cuba and later on the USS LST-285. The USS LST- 285 was assigned to the European theater and participated in the invasion of Normandy in June 1944 and the invasion of Southern France in August 1944 as a landing boat and as a hospital transport. Having witnessed such monumental historical moments, he never took lightly the responsibility of his patriotism and political viewpoints.
On June 25, 1950, Tom married Dorothy “Dot” LeVan McKelvie with whom he would spend the next 59 happy years. Tom and Dot moved to Gunnison in June 1956 after Tom became employed by Western State College as business manager and director of auxiliary enterprises. During this time, they were “blessed” with two daughters and one son. After Tom retired in 1986, he and Dot were able to spend more time traveling. They visited 38 of 50 states, took trips to Canada, Mexico and Israel and experienced a great deal of satisfaction viewing the beauty and diversity of scenery seen during these trips.
Tom was initiated into the Masons by his father-in-law in 1954 ultimately earning the Grand Chapter Ritual Jewel, serving as Grand Commander of Knights Templar of Colorado, and obtaining the 33rd degree of Scottish Rite Freemasonry among many other achievements. His Masonic Orders included Blue Lodge Eastern Star and Grand Lodge AF & AM of Colorado where he served on the Benevolent Fund Scholarship Committee as Chairman and assisted in acquiring the marble capstone used at the DIA ceremony.
The tenets of Masonry, honesty, integrity and tolerance and commitment to brotherhood, good citizenship and good works, were deeply meaningful to Tom and he embraced them in his everyday life.
Tom was preceded in death by his parents, Walton and Florence, beloved wife, Dorothy and son, Douglas Bruce, and his brothers Donald, Douglas and Byron. He is survived by his daughters, Leigh Ann of La Junta, Colorado and Nancy of Gunnison, grandchildren Lindsey (Joe) Schlatter of Overland Park, Kansas, Jerry Rumburg of Gunnison, Katie Crawford of Gunnison, Megan Crawford of La Junta and his delightful great grandchildren, Clara, Teddy, and Dean Schlatter, Ella Rumburg, and Alden Crawford, and numerous nieces and nephews. His remaining brother, Burton, followed him in passing on Sept. 25, 2025.
Tom was an exceptional human being who bestowed much whimsical humor, witticism, and wisdom on all he encountered. He possessed a wonderful natural curiosity, encouraging others to seek varied answers in life through literature, philosophy, science, and more. He never stopped learning and was generous with his wealth of knowledge. His memory was outstanding, recalling poetry he learned as a young man, remembering small details of lives of others, and remembering odd trivia that somehow always found itself to be relevant and necessary. We will miss you dear, beloved father, grandfather and great-grandfather. Our love for you remains forever in our memories.
A celebration of life and potluck is planned for Sunday, Oct. 19 at 10 a.m. at the Western Colorado University Leslie J. Savage Library in the West Wing.
