Mark Bidwell
Friend and Business Associate
I met Michael through Rio Grande Title Company. Our family owned and ran the agency. From the first time we met, I was a title searcher then, Michael was friendly and genuinely interested in me and we became friends. Throughout our careers we interacted regularly through civic organizations and business. Later we both served on the St. Joseph hospital foundation board. He was always willing and able to help anyone or anything he was involved with. His abilities made him a highly sought after participant in business and community engagement. A kind gentle professional in all aspects of his life. He will be greatly missed.

Alan C. Rose
Business, Fishing/Hunting, Friend
I first met Mike in 1978, I think, when I was working as a paid intern for Touche Ross Accountants in their audit department. At that time they were providing the audit of the original Realty Mortgage and Investment Company for the purchase of that company by Mike Kelly. I was just a flunkie doing what the primary auditors asked of me. For the month I was there, part time, Mike was always interested in what I was thinking and doing for my future after college. I had the luxury of being able to talk to a very experienced business person at any time. The advice I received from Mike was extremely valuable. Approximately 5 years later as I was in the last semester of my Graduate studies in Economics, I contacted Mike at RMIC and asked if he had time to meet with me to get some more guidance from him for my business future. He was so generous with his time and I felt he was truly interested in my future. About two weeks later I received a hand written letter in the mail by Mike were he offered me a full time job as a Commercial Mortgage Banker trainee at $12,000 per year with bonuses. I was over the moon surprised. Many years later Mike approached me about merging my company with another Mortgage company were he and I would run the Commercial side of the company. Subsequently, a year later Mike decided to re-incorperate the RMIC name and he and I went out on our own. I will always remember Mike as a caring and compassionate person. Mike Kelly gave me my start in the Mortgage business which I have been in for 40 years. God speed Mike.

James Martin Murphy
Business
I will miss Mike. He was a great friend and business partner. Mike knew how to put on a party. The Q10 Capital crowd often gave Mike an unlimited budget to plan business meetings and he always exceeded the budget. Mike was always positive about life and generous to a fault. One of my favorite memories about Mike was walking through the lobby of the St. Francis hotel. He stopped every service person in the lobby and had me tip them. I didn't walk through another lobby with him in the 30+ years I knew him. Mike, I'll pray for your soul and will miss hearing your voice!

Bob Stout
Business, Friend
Mike and I first met over 30 years ago when I was selling loan servicing software and Realty Mortgage became a client. His personality was truly larger than life. Years later Mike was one of the partners and board members who hired me as CEO of Q10 Capital. He was always the best dressed at our many board meetings, golf outings and dinners! Over the years we developed a deep friendship often spending hours at dinners talking about life and family. His generosity was abundant. When he found out I was involved with a non profit doing orphan advocacy work in China he was one of my most generous partners. I’ll miss his positive spirit and warm smile most of all

John and Melissa Ceriale
Friend
Mike Kelly was a fixture in our lives for a long, long time! It was wonderful to know this man, to know Ida and to watch Robert & Channing grow up. We brought Jane into his life along with their "children" Reggie & Lily! There were good times and struggles but, in the end, all of our lives have been enriched by the entire Kelly Clan. We love you all, dearly.

Henry J. Schwendiman
Business, Friend
Mike Kelly was one of my heroes! I considered him a friend. He always brought a smile to my face in business meetings or any other interaction. He will be deeply missed, but I know we will meet again some day.

Jane Dillon
Family
Michael and I lived fifteen years together in New Mexico and Connecticut. He introduced me to his lovely family, fine friends, and talented colleagues. I had a rich, absorbing, and challenging life with Michael. I learned generosity, adaptability and tenacity.

Together we renovated and shared two beautiful homes in the Albuquerque Country Club neighborhood. Michael had great taste and a great enthusiasm in undertaking projects in the home and the garden. He was the perfect partner/client for a designer, builder, or landscaper. He was a generous, proud, and hospitable man. He lived a big life. My love to all the Kellys.

G. Mark Yarbrough
Church, Family, Friend, Fishing/Hunting
I (we) first met Mike and Ida in 1975--wow 50 years ago--at A Childs Garden (part of First Presbyterian Church where our kids started preschool.) Their children and ours were friends; hence the four of us became friends. Fast forward to 2025, the four of us are still friends; however, what occurred between is a lifetime story. I'll offer some thoughts. Mike was a "best" friend, and he felt much like a brother I didn't have. The first real bonding came in 1977 when four men (all with children in Childs Garden) went to our cabin in Sapello, New Mexico deer hunting. I knew then Mike was the ultimate professional, because who else would go deer hunting in a starched button-down white shirt and Italian loafers. This sartorial pattern was repeated regularly throughout our hunting and fishing trips, and our friendship.

Mike knew nothing but the very best would do in any endeavor--he was truly the most generous human I ever knew. His contributions to many charities local and national in "time and talent" were legendary.

Like a brother, he could be a royal pain in the butt. Episodes of showing up unannounced (and uninvited) happened occasionally. He once was invited to come over to cook a steak dinner. Well, he purchased and brought a "new in the box" Weber grill on which to cook our steak! We put it together and the Yarbrough's cooked on it for at least two decades and we still have it.

There was always the annual spring turkey hunt we both fondly anticipated and I'll be hunting in two weeks without Michael. Once, four of us went to our cabin for turkeys and by the grace of God survived the night. An unventilated butane heater was started, it was late, and we had a wee dram of single malt, and went to bed. We didn't know the winter snow had bent the vent pipe over. Morning came--we all were nauseated, had a killer headache, disoriented , had beet red fingernail beds, and had experienced a near fatal dose of carbon monoxide poisoning. The 500 gallon butane tank ran out of gas!

We had a final fishing trip down the Gunnison River, and Mike Kelly landed two nice brown trout virtually without help. I was very proud of him.

We live our lives looking forward, and judge them looking backward, and my opinions is that Mike's was a full and productive life. We always ended our conversations saying "I love you", and Mike, I still do.

Kathy Yarbrough
Friend
Mike was part of Mark's and my lives for almost fifty years. We shared meals, trips, family adventures and celebrations, and life's ups and downs. Mike taught me an important lesson. He never parted from Mark and me without telling us that he loved us. So, in memory of Mike, be sure to tell your friends how important they are to you.