James Dee Kelley, Jr., 77, of Gurnee, passed away Thursday, October 31, 2013 at Glen Lake Terrace Nursing Home in Waukegan. He was born on August 18, 1936 in Hot Springs, Arkansas.
Jim was a Retired United States Navy Veteran serving during the Korean and Vietnam Wars and was very proud of his military service. Jim also retired from Abbott Laboratories as a Security Guard after many years .He loved spending time with his grandchildren and we are all going to miss him. Jim will be remembered most for his smile and happy demeanor.
He is survived by his loving daughter, Diana (Chris) Whitmire; wife, Diane Kelley; son, Anthony Kelley; grandchildren, Devin Winkler, Alysa Winkler, Samantha Whitmire and Isabella Whitmire; sisters, Mabel Lareece (Joseph) Meeks, brother-in-law Thomas Gelbudas, sister-in law Mary (Fred) Sebben, and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, James Dee and Ella Josephine (Carroll) Kelley, Sr., his twin brother, Baby Boy Kelley, who passed away at birth, his sister Viola Lucille (Charles) Goodwin, his brother Lloyd Joseph Kelley; sister Ethel Mardell Willis, brother-in-law, Elbert Willis, father-in-law Anthony S. Gelbudas and mother-in-law Helen Kazmierzak Gelbudas.
Services are private.