Kelly Wood

It is with profound sorrow that we share the passing of retired Pinetop Fire Marshal, Kelly

Wood, who was called home to be with our Lord and Savior. A devoted husband, father,

grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, friend, and beloved member of the community,

Kelly's life was a testament to kindness, generosity, and the deep love he showed to

everyone around him.

Kelly is survived by his wife of 47 years, Susan, and their four daughters: Brandy

(Jason) Watson, Crystal (Byron) Wood, Julia (Thomas) Lucero, and Alexia (Jeffrey)

Morgan. He was the proud grandfather of Mason, Ethan, Robbie, Kelsey, Natasha,

Isabelle, Joseph, Madeline, Hannah, Emma, Piper, and Amelia, and great-grandfather

to Ella, Silas, Kinsley, Faelyn, and Cameron. He is also survived by his siblings Kathy

(Robert) Walker, Kevin (Rose) Wood, and Kerry (Larry) Labarbara.

Born in Tempe, Arizona in 1955 as the fifth of six children to Vernon and Barbara Wood,

Kelly spent his life building meaningful relationships and making a positive and lasting

impact on the people around him. He was known for his warm smile, his wonderfully

quirky sense of humor, and his unwavering willingness to help anyone in need. He truly

made a difference in the lives he touched.

Kelly graduated from McClintock High School in 1973 and began his career with a

surveying company in Tempe. His path later took him to Kingman, where he worked for

the Arizona Department of Transportation. During his time as a road worker, he saw

firsthand the needs of his community and felt called to serve. He trained as an EMT and

later became a firefighter-a role he embraced wholeheartedly.

Kelly's fire service career began with the Lakeside Fire Department and continued when

he joined the Pinetop Fire Department in 1996. Few people loved their work the way

Kelly did; serving others brought him immense joy. One of his favorite responsibilities

was working as the Public Information Officer. He took great pride in "Freddy," his little

fire-truck robot, which he brought to local schools to teach children about fire safety. For

many years, Freddy and Kelly were a beloved sight in classrooms and at the Fall

Festival parade.

Kelly retired from the Pinetop Fire Department at the end of 2019 as Fire Marshal,

Arson Investigator, and Public Information Officer-roles in which he served with honor,

enthusiasm, and heart. His outreach and dedication made him a pillar of the community,

respected by colleagues and cherished by family and friends. His legacy of service,

humor, and compassion will continue to inspire all who knew him.

In retirement, Kelly discovered a second passion in woodworking, crafting beautiful

handmade pieces for friends and family. He loved camping, hunting, spending time with

those he loved, and laughing at bad jokes and silly memes. His joy was contagious, his

presence comforting, and his humor unmatched.

Kelly truly had it all. He loved deeply, smiled easily, and helped without hesitation. He

always had a joke ready-no matter the moment-and we can imagine him now,

wearing one of his famous Hawaiian shirts, looking down from heaven and sharing a

goofy story with the angels. His warmth, generosity, and love are qualities we should all

strive to emulate. He will be profoundly and forever missed.