Kelly Astle Webb

Millcreek, UT-- Every piece of music starts with a story; Kelly Astle Webb’s song of life paints a picture of strength.  Like Mozart, she lived as though she were “always hovering between hope and anxiety,” and yet her life was a vibrant masterpiece. 

Born on a wintery December day, with a mop of rich, dark hair she was instantly adored.  Only 18 months after her birth, her father died in a horrible, unexpected accident. Though she never knew him in life, they were inseparably linked. Like her father, she had sparkling brown eyes that often glinted with playful mischief. 

By the time she was five, she showed promise as a musician.  With an impeccable memory and excellent rhythm, Kelly learned to play the violin quickly; exciting her music teachers by winning competition after competition.  She almost always turned heads at performances, when she crisply walked onto the stage in a pair of sassy heels, and played with relentless tenacity.  She was thrilling to watch, expressive and full of showmanship. She relished different experiences and seemed destined to live life at an accelerated rate.  Kelly used her gift of music to unite others in the language of love while serving an LDS mission in Slovenia.

At the age of 23, she was called as the Relief Society President and then diagnosed a few months later with stage IV metastatic breast cancer. Soon after her cancer treatments ensued, Kelly seemed to connect to her dad again through their shared raw talent for photography.  Generous neighbors and friends purchased Kelly a nice camera, and she immediately put it to use.  Kelly had eye for perspective, not only behind the camera, but for life.  While Kelly’s body was ravaged with cancer, she spent a year after her diagnosis in the halls of the maternity ward with her camera, capturing the delicious moments of newborn babies with their mothers. She embraced the candidness of life, and mastered the art of contrasting dark rooms with light windows, by adjusting her settings; the same principles she applied to her life.

Despite her cancer, Kelly’s spirit was bright and she had a zest for life that made her irresistible to those who rubbed shoulders with her.  Two years after diagnosis, she met Nick, a wise and open-minded soul, who recognized her caliber, and began dating her seriously.  They quickly had a strong connection and were consumed with each other. From their first kiss to the day she died, they never missed a single day of being in each other’s arms.  No-one could match their “slug bug” competitions in the car, nor help smiling at their playful banter (Starlord! Sweetheart!). Nick was romantic with her, surprising Kelly with pearls their first Christmas as a couple (the same strand she wore on her wedding day). Their relationship was oxygen for both of them and they understood that God uses us to help each other overcome the pitfalls of life. Their love was not perfect, but deep and substantial.

Kelly and Nick crammed in life together, and licked the flavors of the bowl of life (almost like scraping the last spoonfuls of a bowl of ice-cream). At the end, Kelly loved making everyone squirm with her jokes about death (suggesting she should spend a night in her pre-ordered coffin to see if it was comfortable enough). Known as a capricious trickster who ALWAYS started water fights on the fourth of July, it was painful to observe cancer rob her of movement and energy.  We are relieved she is free from cancer’s grasp, and finally back with her dad; they have a lot of missed time to make up. 

She leaves behind her magnificent husband, hero and caregiver, Nick Webb; her gracious, angel mother, Shelley Astle; five fabulous siblings: Ryan Astle (Becky), Travis Astle (Sue), Andrea Waite (Rus), Lindsay Ashton (Ira), and Lance Astle (Annie); 16 (almost 17) adoring nieces and nephews; and the best two dogs in the world, Charlie and Jack who survive her.

Funeral services celebrating Kelly Astle Webb’s brilliant life will be held Tuesday, April 30th at 11:00 a.m. at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Evergreen Ave. Chapel, 2125 E Evergreen Ave (3435 S.), Salt Lake City, UT 84109.

Visitations will be held Monday evening, April 29th from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Evergreen Chapel, and from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, April 30th.  Her body will be interred at the Larkin Sunset Gardens, 1950 E Dimple Dell Road (10600 S.), Sandy, UT 84092. Funeral Directors Holbrook Mortuary. Online condolences can be submitted to https://www.HolbrookMortuary.com.

Funeral Service Audio