Kelly Koep

Kelly Jean Koep April 8, 1986 - March 20, 2018 Kelly Jean “Jelly Bean” Koep, age 31, of Grants Pass, Oregon, passed away on March 20, 2018. Kelly was a beautiful and wonderful daughter, sister, partner and friend.

She attended Jerome Prairie Elementary, Lincoln Savage Middle School and Hidden Valley High School. She earned her high school diploma one year early through the National Guard Youth Program. She then attended cosmetology school at Phagan’s Grants Pass, and received her esthetician license. Kelly moved to Las Vegas, Nevada, and worked at the spa in the MGM Grand Hotel for a short time. She then became an esthetician instructor at Euphoria Institute of Cosmetology in Las Vegas. Kelly loved her career.

Kelly was diagnosed with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome Type 3 (EDS) when she was an adolescent. Unfortunately, the symptoms worsened with age, so not long after her career took off in her early 20s, Kelly became disabled. She moved back to Grants Pass to be closer to her parents. Kelly has gone through several surgeries, yet she still stayed strong and vibrant. She became one of the largest advocates on the West coast for raising awareness for people with EDS. Kelly assisted others in the EDS community to receive proper treatments and surgeries by working with their physicians and insurance providers. Additionally, physicians occasionally recommended their patients to reach out to Kelly for further EDS education and support.

She enjoyed raising and caring for her pets, arts & crafts, shopping, and good movies. Kelly has had such a great impact on so many lives. She will be missed dearly. She was preceded in death by her father, Thomas Koep; grandparents, Grandpa Wolfe, Grandma and Grandpa Koep. Kelly is survived by her partner, Josh Akins of Grants Pass; her mother, Wendy Koep of Grants Pass; brother, Christopher Koep of Idaho and Richard Koep of Grants Pass; grandparents, Paul and Jeanie McGlothlin; as well as, aunts, uncles and cousins.

A memorial will be held at 11 a.m., Saturday, April 7, 2018, at Hull & Hull Funeral Home, 612 NW A Street, Grants Pass, OR 97526; 541-474-4453. Donations may be made to Ehlers-Danlos National Foundation.