Thomas W. Kelly, 89, of Spring Lane Farm, Tyrone, Pennsylvania, passed away on Wednesday, June 3, 2026, at his home surrounded by his family.

Born January 21, 1937, in West Newton, Pennsylvania, he was the oldest child of John Martin and Mildred (Holod) Kelly. Tom grew up on farms in Westmoreland and Washington Counties, where farming and his faith shaped the course of his life. A natural leader from youth, he earned the FFA Keystone Farmer Degree in 1954, the Pennsylvania National 4-H Leadership Award in 1956, and represented his country on the 1958 International Farm Youth Exchange to France following his graduation from Penn State University with a degree in Agricultural Education in 1958.

Tom first met Margaret "Peg" Morrow, in 1957 when they were competing on Penn State and 4-H dairy judging teams, respectively, at national contests. They married on May 26, 1962, and built a life together rooted in faith, love, hard work, and family.

Before farming on their own, Tom spent fifteen years serving the agricultural industry as Blair County's Assistant Agent for 4-H and Dairy, Holstein Association Fieldman across Pennsylvania and New England, District Manager for Curtiss Breeding Service, and Show Manager for the Pennsylvania All-American Dairy Show, Keystone Livestock Exposition and Pennsylvania Farm Show Livestock Contests. It was under his leadership that the Invitational Youth Dairy Cattle Judging Contest, now a staple of the All-American Dairy Show, began.

In 1974, Tom and Peg founded Spring Lane Farm in Tyrone's Sinking Valley, starting without family land or assistance. Through years of hard work and perseverance, they grew the farm from 27 cows on 174 acres to a herd of 170 Registered Holsteins on 350 owned acres. The farm received the Progressive Breeders Registry and Genetic Herd awards fifteen years from Holstein Association USA, exported cattle and embryos to 13 countries, and at dispersal in 2004 carried a 10-year DHIA average of 2X 26,066 Milk, 944 Fat, and 808 Protein. Yet, Tom often considered the family's greatest accomplishment to be the opportunities the farm provided for their children. All five Kelly children were active in 4-H Dairy and Junior Holstein activities.

Tom was deeply committed to giving back to the organizations that support agriculture and rural communities. He served Holstein Association USA as Director for 8 years, and Board Executive Committee member for 2 years. Within the Farm Credit System he served 28 years, including Board Chairman of PennWest, Board Chairman of AgChoice, and Director and Board Chairman of the AgFirst District Bank. He was Director of both the Pennsylvania Dairymen's Association and the Pennsylvania Holstein Association, General Chairman of the Pennsylvania Holstein Convention in 1984, and President of the Mid-Atlantic Master Farmer Association in 2012 and 2013. He held directorships and leadership roles in the Blair County Farm Bureau, Cooperative Extension, Holstein Club, and Blair/Huntingdon Counties Crops Management Association, and served as a Delegate to the Penn State Agriculture Council.

Over the years, Tom received numerous honors, including the Blair County Farm Family Award, 1983; Gamma Sigma Delta National Honor Society, 1986; Delta Theta Sigma Distinguished Alumnus Award, 1989; Charles Cowan Award by the PA Dairymen's Association, 1994; Mid-Atlantic Master Farmer, 2005; Pennsylvania Holstein Hall of Fame, 2007, and Obie Snider Award, 2021. While grateful for these recognitions, what Tom enjoyed most was working alongside fellow farmers and encouraging the next generation.

Faith was the anchor of Tom's life, and family was his greatest joy. A devoted member of Sinking Valley Presbyterian Church, he served for decades as Elder, Treasurer, Sunday School Teacher, and Chairman of the Mission and Outreach Committee. His faith was evident not only in these roles, but in the way he treated others with humility, integrity, generosity, and a willingness to help wherever he was needed. He loved Peg with unwavering devotion, was immensely proud of each of his five children, and delighted in the lives of his eleven grandchildren. The arrival of great-granddaughter Margot filled his heart with joy. He was a man of deep faith who found purpose in his family, his faith, and the farming life he loved.

Tom is survived by his beloved wife of 64 years, Peg; his five children, Brian (Caroline) Kelly, Susanne (David) Lucas, Miriam (Norman) Miller, Rebecca (Justin) McMurray, and John David (Simmi) Kelly; his eleven grandchildren, David Thomas Lucas, Elizabeth Lucas (Tyler) Gerhart, Ella Lucas, Mariel (Joseph Ferragonio) and Jacob Thomas (Olivia Sandacz) Miller, Isabelle, Elijah, Thomas, and Emelia McMurray, and Ty and Rya Kelly; and his great-granddaughter, Margot Elizabeth Gerhart. He is also survived by his sister, Ruth Talley, and numerous nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents, Tom was preceded in death by his sister, Clara Morgan; and brothers-in-law Leroy Morgan and Robert Talley.

A memorial service will be held at Sinking Valley Presbyterian Church on Saturday, June 6, 2026 at 11:00am. Friends will be received on Friday, June 5, 2026 from 4-7pm at Richard H. Searer Funeral Home, Inc. Interment will be made at St. John Evangelical Lutheran Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital or Sinking Valley Presbyterian Church, 854 Morrow Road, Tyrone, PA 16686.