Michael Douglas O'Kelly

Michael Douglas O’Kelly, age 91, of West Virginia, passed away peacefully on January 20, 2026, at United Hospital Center in Clarksburg, West Virginia. He was born on February 18, 1934, at St. Mary’s Hospital in Clarksburg, beginning a life devoted to thought, service, compassion, and living life with purpose and meaning.

Michael was a Unitarian minister for more than fifty years, serving congregations and communities with intellectual rigor, deep empathy, and unwavering respect for the dignity of every person. His ministry was grounded not in dogma, but in conscience, reason, and love—values he lived daily and articulated through sermons, counseling, poetry, and prose.

He served congregations primarily in Muncie, Indiana; Hinsdale, Illinois; and Long Beach, California. During his ministry in Long Beach, Michael also served as a Police Chaplain and was a member of the Police Oversight Board, offering moral guidance, calm presence, and principled advocacy during difficult and often painful moments in the community.

After returning to West Virginia, Michael continued his ministerial work later in life, serving the Unitarian Universalist congregation in Morgantown as needed and on special occasions. He also worked as a counselor for the West Virginia Youth Advocacy Program, where his patience, insight, and belief in human potential made a lasting impact on young lives.

Before entering the ministry, Michael served honorably in the United States Army, where he was stationed overseas at SHAPE Command, working in code breaking—a role that reflected both his intellectual gifts and his commitment to service.

Michael was a theologian, counselor, poet, writer, and children’s book author. His writings explored faith, ethics, grief, hope, and the human condition with clarity and compassion. He believed that questions were often more sacred than answers, and that kindness was among the highest forms of wisdom.

Among his enduring contributions was the creation of World Harmony Day, an observance he established to encourage reflection, compassion, dialogue, and peaceful coexistence across cultures, beliefs, and nations. Observed annually on July 2nd, World Harmony Day reflected Michael’s lifelong conviction that harmony begins within individuals and radiates outward through understanding, empathy, and ethical action. He viewed harmony not as the absence of conflict, but as a conscious and continual commitment to human dignity and shared responsibility.

Michael was deeply devoted to learning and scholarship, earning degrees from:  West Virginia University – Bachelor of Arts, Meadville Theological School of Lombard College – Bachelor of Divinity, Ball State University – Master of Arts in Psychology, Meadville Theological School of Lombard College – Master of Divinity

Michael was preceded in death by his parents, Jabez O’Kelly and Genevieve Hawkins; his brother Gary O’Kelly; and his beloved wife of nearly fifty years, Marilyn O’Kelly, who passed away in 2009.

He was the author of fifteen books, including Glistenings, a deeply personal work written as a lasting tribute to Marilyn and to the love they shared.  https://www.mdokelly.com/

He is survived by his children, Karen O’Kelly, Kirsten DeVono (husband Wm. Kevin DeVono) and Sean O’Kelly; his grandchildren Michael Harris, Lauren Harris, and Joey DeVono; his sister Sharon Youngdahl; and his brother Dennis O’Kelly.

He will be remembered for his gentle intellect, moral courage, wry humor, and profound belief in the worth of every human being. His life was a testament to listening deeply, speaking thoughtfully, and living with integrity.

MDOK: "Harmonians! Yep! I’m One! Soul-Purposeful Celebrant of Life’s Harmony Every Day”

A memorial service celebrating Michael’s life and ministry will be held Wednesday, February 18, 2026 from 3:00 - 7:00 PM at his home, 253 Magnolia Avenue, Clarksburg. In lieu of flowers, those wishing to honor his memory are encouraged to observe World Harmony Day on July 2nd, read his writings, engage in thoughtful conversation, or perform an act of kindness in someone else’s life—practices he believed could change the world, one moment at a time.

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