James "Kelly" Fenwick

James “Kelly” Fenwick was born December 9, 1955, in Amarillo, Texas to Jim and Peggy Fenwick. Kelly was a miracle from the day he took his first breath. His Mom lost six babies before Kelly was born and, thus, started a lifetime of God’s many miracles in Kelly’s short 69 years. Kelly attended schools in Amarillo and in Fritch. He graduated from Fritch High School in 1974 and played football with friends and teammates who became cherished lifelong friends, especially Jimmy Bryan. He raced motocross both amateur and professionally for over nine years. If you knew Kelly and his big personality, it would not surprise you to know that he wore sunglasses for his high school football picture. He was just born to be a cool dude, and he was – with a really big attitude, too, which went well with his fiery red hair!

Kelly went to work at Asarco after high school, followed by an almost 20-year career at the Amarillo Fire Department as a driver and medic, and he ran Rescue One with his partner Huey. Kelly loved helping people and prided himself on being a bar ditch doctor! While playing in a mixed softball league, Kelly met Tanya Sigler and they were married in 1980. This was during his cowboy phase. In 1982, they welcomed Michael Brent Fenwick followed by Craig James Fenwick in 1985. Kelly loved his boys like no other! He was so proud and protective of Brent and Craig! In March of 1998, Kelly faced the greatest demon in his life –alcoholism. With God’s help and Kelly’s unwavering faith, Kelly became sober. He was so proud of that accomplishment which was a priceless gift to Kelly and his family and friends!

In the summer of 2002, Kelly was set up on a blind date with Melba. While it may have appeared to others on the outside that they were not a good match, they were more alike than people thought. Melba met Kelly during his biker phase which he assured her was not a phase but a lifestyle. He was not wrong! In fact, most people did not think they would last. However, it was the love of their kids, family and motorcycles that brought them closer than ever and they became engaged on Christmas Eve 2002. While God told Kelly that Melba was the “one,” she wasn’t so sure because God hadn’t told her that Kelly was the “one” – not yet anyway. Melba and Kelly’s first year of dating was spent going to Craig’s football games and wrestling matches and Stephanie’s fast pitch games. They rode thousands and thousands of miles on their motorcycles with cherished friends, fished as often as they could and had so much fun doing it, but they remained engaged until God told Melba that Kelly “needed” her, and that was all she needed to hear. When Melba told Kelly she was ready to set a date, he said, “What for?” It had been so long that Kelly did not even remember what date Melba wanted to set. They were married on September 3, 2004. before a skeptical crowd of about 200 of their closest family and friends. In true Kelly Fenwick fashion, Kelly wore sleeves on his tuxedo for the ceremony but promptly got out his sharp knife and cut the sleeves off. On that day, Kelly became a girl Dad to Stephanie, and Stephanie gained two brothers who she loved dearly. Kelly and Stephanie were both so stubborn and protective of Melba that it took a while for them to bond, but they eventually did and it was such a special relationship. It was so comforting to Melba that Kelly loved Stephanie as much as she did. Over the years, Melba realized that she needed Kelly as much as he needed her!

In 2007, Kelly received the title of “PawPaw” to Nicholas James “Nick” Fenwick, his namesake. Then, in 2022, Kelly gained another daughter Megan and grandson Ezra, followed by the birth of grandson Damon James Dockery in 2023 who simply adored his PawPaw.

On November 9, 2021, the Fenwick family faced the most challenging and heart wrenching time of their lives when Craig went home to Heaven. Melba spent her days and nights for the next four years comforting Kelly and reassuring him that Craig did not die that day, that the Lord came and took him home to his eternal home. Melba and Kelly clung to each other for dear life after Craig passed away. Kelly’s life was filled with great love and belly laughs, but it was also filled with too many tears to count and tremendous heartache, surgeries, illnesses, a brain aneurysm, Stage IV cancer, liver disease, heart failure and chronic leukemia, but he fought like the great warrior he was! While Satan may have attacked and tortured Kelly for years, Kelly is healed and he is with his cherished son and mini me, Craig. I know they both had longed for that glorious day! The victory is the Lord’s! Kelly fought the great fight, and he won the war! He always said that he might not start the fight, but he would darn sure finish it! Indeed, he did! Kelly was a great and mighty warrior who is missed dearly!

Kelly was preceded in death by his grandparents and parents, son Craig, father-in-law Penny Brooks and mother-in-law Darlene Brooks, his Pop Jim Welch of Ruidoso, brothers Ronald Sigler and Ronnie Arnold, and his beloved Chihuahuas Harley and Hershey, as well as many cherished aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends. Kelly is survived by the love of his life and best friend, Melba, son Brent, daughters Stephanie and Megan, grandsons Nick, Ezra and Damon, and his ex-wife and dear friend, Tanya Fenwick, Mom BJ Welch, brothers Taylor Brooks and Mike Atwood, sisters Kara Knox and Trisha Swink, cousins Mike and Boo O’Neil, Terri and Virgil Fisher, Ed and Tracy Welch, Autumn, Kimberly, Kelly and all of his many beloved Fraser, Colorado family, nephews Andrew, Cameron, Austin and Joseph Carson, well as many cherished aunts, uncles, cousins and friends who are all family to Kelly and Melba.

A celebration of Kelly’s life will be held on Saturday, November 29, 2025, at 10:30 a.m. at Boxwell Brothers Chapel, 2800 Paramount Blvd., Amarillo, TX with his nephew Joseph Brooks conducting the service. Please bring your favorite Kelly stories and feel free to share them with everyone. Melba would like to thank all of the faithful prayer warrior for your countless prayers over the past 14 years, and Drs. Kang, Ellington, Tumula, Shepherd, Carthel, Taylor and Ashfaq, as well as the many nurses, aides and hospice caregivers who helped make his life bearable.