Fr. Francis (Bud) Kelly O.S.C. Scheets

died August 12, 2011 in Phoenix after a short two-week struggle with cancer. He was 85. Fr. Bud was a member of the Crosier Community of Phoenix since 2004, continuing to assist at parishes until his recent illness while actively living Crosier Religious Life. Fr. Bud, who spent 65 years as a Crosier and 60 years as a priest, lived an active lifestyle by hiking in the mountains in Phoenix and in the winter skiing with his family. He was born April 9, 1926, in Aurora, IL. He made his profession of vows on August 28th, 1946 and was ordained a priest on June 1st, 1951. After ordination, Fr. Bud taught Latin, Religion, English, and History at Crosier Seminary in Onamia, MN and at Archbishop Stepinac High School in White Plains, NY. He earned a Ph.D. in Parish Information Systems and assisted dioceses and the Crosiers in Management and Strategic Planning. He worked as a consultant for the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate (CARA) in Washington, D.C. and was an expert in statistics and analyzing data and trends. He was preceded in death by parents, Francis Kelly and Katherine (Martin) Scheets; brothers, George Scheets and Fr. Tom Scheets. He is survived by his brother Sam (Sue) Scheets; sister-in-law, Phyllis, as well as nieces, nephews and grand nieces and nephews and by his religious community. Visitation will be held Tuesday, August 16, 2011 from 7:00 – 9:00 P.M. with an Evening Prayer Service at 8:00 P.M. at Whitney and Murphy Funeral Home, 4800 E. Indian School Rd., Phoenix. A Morning Prayer Service will be held Wednesday, August 17, 2011 at 9:45 A.M. at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 1421 S. 12th St., Phoenix, followed by Visitation. A Mass of a Christian Burial will begin at 10:30 A.M. followed by a luncheon at Sacred Heart. Burial to be held in Onamia, MN at a later date. Memorial contributions may be made to the Crosier Retirement Fund.