Pat Kelley Logan

Pat Kelley Logan, 86, of Gonzales, passed away Friday, Dec. 28. She was born April 7, 1932 to D.B. and Leona Holt Kelley, the seventh daughter of D.B. and the 16th child.

Mr. Kelley’s first wife, Josie died losing the child she was carrying leaving, six children behind, the youngest being only 18 months old. Leona Holt Kelley raised these children and had eight, Pat being the baby of the clan.

Pat loved horses and began to ride with her Daddy before she could walk. As a teenager she rode barrel races, not the high dollar horses kids have today but any of the “working horses” she could catch in the pasture.

When WWII broke out, all of her brothers went off to defend our country leaving Dad with this 9-year-old cowgirl along with the youngest brother Joe.

Pat loved playing baseball, basketball and tennis. Always in motion. Dance was a love in her life, she taught dancing and must have danced a million miles.

Pat attended Unity Baptist Church, this was the social center of all the family’s activity. After the church was disbanded, they returned to the First Baptist Church and later to the mission Eastside Baptist Church. She accepted Jesus Christ as her personal Savior and was baptized in the Maurin caleche tank, land located near Unity Church, at the age of 11.

After graduating from Gonzales High School in 1949, she married Jimmy Earl Brown in 1950. They had three sons, lived for a short time in Yoakum and moved back to Gonzales where they built a home on a two-acre tract Mr. Kelley gave to them off the front of the home ranch. This road later became known as “Kelley Loop”, at one time four of the Kelley children built homes and lived there.

Her brother Scott’s wife, Betty, was a great influence in her life. Betty was a legal secretary and late a court reporter. Pat followed in her footsteps, working for almost all of the local attorneys and transcribing court cases for Betty while her boys were young enabling her to work at home.

Pat and Jim were divorced in 1966, she took the boys and moved to Victoria, there working in a law office, was offered a management position in a title company. While they lived in Victoria, Bryan, the baby son, died in 1970. The pain and hurt of this event left a mark on the hearts of all the family.

As the older sons, Ty and Jeff, grew up and graduated high school, they joined their dad Jim in his cattle company in Abilene, Texas, where they both worked for more than 25 years.

Pat had a brief sojourn in Tyler, Texas. A beautiful city, where roses grew as big as dinner plates, working again in a law office, handling most of the title work using a local title company.

Pat returned to Gonzales in 1975, where she was employed as manager of Gonzales Title Company. While working there, various oil companies came into town and as result of meeting and working with them and their attorneys, she went into the petroleum industry as a landman. Her niece, Lee Walker Riedel, worked with her and they traveled Texas doing work they loved. This business grew quickly and sister-in-law Virene Kelley, Joe’s wife, came to work with them. Wonderful opportunities, much travel and meeting wonderful people, this business lasted almost 20 years.

Pat met husband, Don Logan, after leasing his family land and producing a good well. She called him “That Dude from Denver” because he was paying more for leases and getting in her play. Not realizing that he was a man she grew up with, attended church with as well as school, she became reacquainted with him after 35 years. They married March 17, 1985, retired, built a home on a family ranch, raised cattle, gardened and watched as their children married and presented them with grand babies and great-grand babies.

One of Pat’s favorite sayings was, “If I am not learning, earning or having fun, it is a waste of my time.”

Pat considered her greatest accomplishment, having her children. She is survived by her son Jeffery Kelley Brown of Gonzales; grandchildren: Kelley McLaughlin of Baird, Amy Lane and husband Randy of Abilene, Brud Brown and wife Karisa of New Braunfels and Cheyenne Brown of Hutto; great-grandchildren: Cassidy McLaughlin, Kooper Brown, Baylor Brown, Bryton Brown and Benton Brown. Also survived are numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, sons: Tyre J. Brown and Bryan Keith Brown, grandson Bryan Brown, sisters: Gerturde Kelley Hallmark, Sadie Kelley Ryan, Emmalou Kelley Fisher, Ethel Kelley Walker and Joy Kelley Towns, brothers: Darden, Homer, Buck D.B. Jr, Scott, Sherman, Sterling and Joe Kelley.

Visitation will be held from 5-7 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 2 at Seydler-Hill Funeral Home. Graveside services will be 2 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 3 at the Denton Creek Cemetery with Reverend Jesse Elizondo officiating. Arrangements are under the care and direction of Seydler-hill Funeral Home, Gonzales.