LUCERNE, Calif. – Francis (Frank) Albert McKelvey Jr., a loving husband and father, brother, good friend, and amazing nurse, passed away from complications of pneumonia on April 5, 2019, surrounded by family and loved ones. He was 60 years old.

Frank McKelvey lived a dynamic life, that revolved around helping others, exceeding expectations and having a great time.

He was born Francis Albert McKelvey Jr. in Nov. 30, 1958, in Northridge, California, as a fraternal twin. He was raised in Los Angeles, the son of a music and television producer/editor Frank A. McKelvey Sr. and a secretary, Shirley Ann McKelvey.

Always having an interest in submarines, he enlisted in the Navy in 1976, serving on the SSBN Theodore Roosevelt during the cold war.

Frank was known for his love of music and high fidelity audio. He earned his dolphins on his first patrol (less than 3 months), and spent time in Hawaii at Pearl Harbor and also Guam during his service and later decided to become a Navy Corpsman stationed at Camp Pendleton, California. “I felt that blowing up the world was madness, and that the most righteous thing I could do would be to help people.”

After his Navy service ended he moved to Fallbrook, California, where he met the love of his life, Linda. They eloped, married and later moved to Northern California and started a family, for whom he gave his all.

In 1993, Frank moved his family to Lake County, California, where he began working at Sutter Lakeside Hospital in the emergency room and intensive care unit. He worked there for more than 15 years, then started working at Sutter Home Health, where he cared for patients throughout Lake County. In 2014, he started working at Adventist Health in Clearlake in the ICU.

Frank loved Lake County for its natural beauty and enjoyed spending his days off down at the lake.

Frank was posthumously named an honoree of the 2019 Daisy Award for excellence in nursing.

“He was intelligent, kind, caring, generous, and professional with patients, their families and his co-workers. He was a gentle soul with an amazing ability to connect with patients and families alike.”

“He is remembered today for who he was as a nurse and the impact he had on the patients that were blessed to have him as their nurse. Frank was and will continue to be remembered as an amazing nurse, a cherished co-worker and a champion for patients.”

He is also remembered as a loving father and husband, a kind and generous person, known for his wit and sense of humor. He was always willing to help others, and share his knowledge and experience. He will be greatly missed.

Frank is survived by his wife, Linda; sons, Keith, Kurt and Kevin; daughter, Emily; his twin sister, Fran; brother, Kevin; and grandchildren, Kehlani McKelvey, Jacob McKelvey and Lathen McKelvey.

He was preceded in death by his father, Francis Albert McKelvey Sr.; mother, Shirley Anne McKelvey; and sister, Kathy Anne Johnston.

A celebration of his life will be held in June. Details to be announced.