Birdie Cao Kelley

Birdie Kelley, 85, passed away on Thursday, October 29th at her home in Three Forks, on the Jefferson River, with family by her side.

Birdie was born in Haiphong, Vietnam; the middle of six children. She met her future husband, Lawrence, while they both worked in Saigon for Pan American Airlines and were married in Singapore in 1968. That same year the airlines transferred them to O'ahu where they raised their children in the town of Kane'ohe. Later in life, they split their time between Hawaii, Big Sky, Bozeman and Three Forks, Montana.

Over the years, Birdie enjoyed traveling, skiing, fishing, cooking, crafting, gardening and flower arranging. What she loved most, though, was spending time with her family as well as with her dear friends in Hawaii, Big Sky, and at The Springs Living in Bozeman . She will be fondly remembered for her fierce devotion to her family, her beautiful smile, and her feisty energy.

Birdie was preceded in death by her husband, Larry. She is survived by her daughter, Christie Kelley Canfield (Christopher) of Bozeman, MT; her son, Bradford Kelley (Ana Ribas) of Los Angeles, CA; her brother, Tin Cao of Kaneohe, HI; and her three grandchildren, Leo and Ivy Canfield, and Rafael Kelley.