Marcella Mary "Cella" (McGrady) Kelly

Stevensville - Marcella “Cella” Mary McGrady Kelly, 71, of Stevensville, MT, passed away in the early morning hours of September 27, 2025, at her home, surrounded by love. She was born on September 10,1954, in Hazelton, PA, and raised in McGraw, NY. She was the daughter of Patrick McGrady, a high school music teacher and conductor, and Magdalen Potochny, a dedicated mother and community member. Cella was one of eleven children, raised in a boisterous home and taught to prioritize family, education, volunteerism, and creativity. Growing up, she was a beauty queen and cheerleader who was also a member of the school’s bowling club, played the French horn, and led the marching band with the baton.

Excelling in academics, she was offered a spot at MIT. Fatefully, she landed at Brockport University, where she met her husband of 51 years, David Kelly. Their love story is one for the books; together, with Cella vigorously tutoring Dave, they transferred to Syracuse University to pursue their degrees in engineering and wed on May 18,1974, the weekend before finals. A brilliant engineer, their careers took them to Boston, MA; Portland, OR; Seattle, WA; Dublin, IR; and London and Oswestry, ENG. While raising their young children, she took some time away from engineering and pursued a path in education, earning her teaching certification from Portland State University and working for the Portland School System as a chemistry teacher.

Throughout her life, Cella was an artist. An impressive seamstress, she sewed her own wedding dress, her children’s Halloween costumes, and her daughter’s prom dress. She later attended the New York Fashion Academy in Seattle, where her designs were featured in fashion shows at the Seattle Art Museum and Seattle Hempfest. She explored many other mediums, including quilting and leatherworking, and became a skilled metalworker, practicing for over a decade with a more recent focus on lost-wax casting, enameling, and cloisonné. She studied at the Seattle Pratt Fine Arts Center and eventually had a fully equipped studio at her home in Stevensville, MT. Her loved ones will cherish the many creations she gifted over the years.

In addition to the arts, Cella was an esteemed baker, pierogi maker, gardener, and lover of music; learning these skills from her parents, Madge and Patrick. She made seed and nut bread every holiday season and was the family’s pierogi maker at all their larger gatherings. She nurtured gardens at each of her homes, most recently planting a forest around her yard in which birds, deer, and many other creatures have found a safe haven. She ensured her children took piano lessons and filled the home with music just as her father had.

Cella and Dave valued adventure in their lives. Before children, they were avid backpackers and went cross-country skiing and camping with dear friends all around the PNW. In Ireland, Cella would regularly take the children to explore the country’s hillsides, castles, and history. Cella and Dave embarked on the Cycle Oregon seven-day bicycle ride, canoe camping trips, river cruises, international travel, and draft horse competition campouts with her sister and brother-in-law.

Cella is preceded in death by her parents; her son, Edward “Teddy” Kelly; her brothers, John and David McGrady; and her sister, RoseAnn McGrady-Leahy. She is survived by her loving family: her husband, David Kelly of Stevensville, MT; her son, Patrick and her daughter, Anna Kelly of Portland, OR; and her beloved Australian Shepard, Mickey; her sisters Sharon Renfro, Kathy Schaefer, Mary McGrady; her brothers Patrick, Donald, Michael, and Timmy McGrady; their spouses (MBSILs); and a large and caring extended family.

Her family and friends will celebrate her life with a private service. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that memorials be made to the American Lung Association and requests that everyone takes time to educate themselves and spread awareness about Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR).

American Lung Association: https://action.lung.org/site/Donation2?df_id=42608&mfc_pref=T&42608.donation=form1&topic=Branded&s_src=PaidSearch&s_subsrc=Brand&s_src=PaidSearch&s_subsrc=Brand&gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=21768133912&gbraid=0AAAAA-Ldnu8ZCwWhAtujuG533hQ0dV_9e&gclid=CjwKCAjw_-3GBhAYEiwAjh9fUGQ3zm13TYq180msZWWPQWYWmMDIKVgC3vQ00ScsE_2OqJ2rjomHMhoCqY0QAvD_BwE

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Marcella Mary "Cella" (McGrady) Kelly, please visit our floral store.