Brop Kelly Burnett started out Barbara Kelly, but as a toddler, was unable to pronounce her three-syllable first name, self-shortening it to "Brop," which stayed with her for her entire life. Our beloved, bespectacled Brop, 66, passed away Saturday in her Daytona Beach home, which she shared with husband Random Burnett for more than three decades. She battled an insidious form of breast cancer for more than four years. Brop and Random fell in love as University of Florida underclassmen and enjoyed a full, rich and loving marriage for 44 years. Along the way, they made a host of friends, some through their career paths. Random went into law and continues to practice to this day, while Brop had a variety of jobs, including stints in the News-Journal advertising department and at Daytona State College. Always effervescent and friendly, she found the perfect career match as a Realtor, and became so successful, founded her own boutique company, Brop Realty Company. Brop was comfortable at any setting, whether it be a sit-formal with dignitaries or sharing a pitcher of beer with family and friends at a local pub. Despite being born with an extreme case of myopia, which required glasses by the age of 3 (she would walk straight into walls, get up and keep going), she was abundant with energy and outgoing. She was an extremely popular student at Seabreeze High School, involved with several clubs, with a flair for art. After graduating, she attended DSC, before heading over to Gainesville to complete her education. She constantly commuted from UF and knew every bump and turn on Highway 40. Back in the day, Brop and Random would host legendary keg parties on the back porch of the "old Kelly house." Brop's parents, Roger and Barbara Kelly, lived in a weather-beaten beach house, where the Kelly kids grew up; the "World's Most Famous Beach" as their backyard. It was during these gatherings of young people, Brop developed her natural gift of hosting; where friendships were born that lasted a lifetime. When the young couple bought their house, the socials continued, with deck parties held in the spring and fall months on a regular basis. While Brop and Random had countless friends, they were always plugged into family gatherings, where life stories were bounced around like basketballs. Even as young adults, the family would gather at the "old Kelly house" to drink homemade Bloody Marys and ravage hamburgers cooked on the grill. Brop was there in good times and bad, helping her siblings every way possible. She was generous with her love and caring and solid as a rock in those difficult moments, such as the death of her father, then 20 years later when her mother unexpectedly passed. Brop was extremely civic-minded. She was a staunch member of the Junior League of Daytona Beach, following in the footsteps of her mother. She also belonged to the Volusia County Women's Network, served on the board of the Florida International Festival and on the executive board of the Museum of Arts & Sciences. If it sounds like Brop was a homebody, bound by the confines of the city limits, you are absolutely wrong. In fact, the Burnetts took great pleasure in traveling. They would take time off of their busy careers to see the different parts of the sphere. They most famously ventured to the South Pole by flying to the tip of South America, then catching a specialized cruise ship to the bottom of the world. For a little kid, who could not see the fingers on her outstretched hand, Brop lived a full and rich life filled with adventure. By the way, Brop was a nickname for less than half her life. As a gift from her lawyer husband for her 27th birthday, she legally changed her name to Brop Kelly Burnett. Brop joins her parents and two sisters, Frances and Livia, in heaven. She is survived by her husband, Random; brothers Emmet Kelly, Godwin Kelly and Joe Kelly; sisters-in-law Diane Kelly and Denise O'Toole Kelly; nieces Kahlin Kelly Grant and Ellie Kelly, and their husbands Tyler Grant and Julian Botella, respectively; nephew Casey Kelly; and grandnephew Kyler Grant. A Celebration of Life for Brop is scheduled for 11 a.m. Oct. 18 at Our Lady of Lourdes Church, 1014 N. Halifax Ave., Daytona Beach. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

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