James L. Kelley, born in Malden, Massachusetts, September 6, 1933, to Nora (Collins) and Charles E. Kelley. For the past six and a half years, Jim and his wife of 65 years resided at Reata Glen, Rancho Mission Viejo, California, where he founded a Parkinson's support group.  He proudly served in the US Navy during the Korean Conflict, then attended UCLA on the GI bill.

Jim passed peacefully December 11, 2025, at Hoag Hospital Irvine, where he volunteered for over twenty years.  Jim is survived by his beloved wife Virginia, his loving family — son Stephen, granddaughter Quinn, daughter-in-law Jacqueline and niece Blanche Matulich.

There will be a funeral mass officiated by Father Paw Lwin at Holy Trinity Catholic Church, 1600 Corporate Drive, Ladera Ranch on January 16, 2026, at 11 a.m. with a private interment following at Miramar National Cemetery San Diego.  Jim will be remembered as a fun-loving, people-person who was admired by everyone he met.