James M. Kelly

James M. Kelly, 85, passed away July 24, 2015 at his residence in Lakewood. Mr. Kelly was born in Brooklyn, NY before moving to Ramsey, NJ and Dallas, TX for many years and finally settling in Lakewood for the past 15 years. James served in the US Army and worked for Mobil Oil as a Purchasing Executive Vice President for many years while he was in Dallas. Mr. Kelly earned his BS in Economics from the Brooklyn College. He was known as the “Mayor of Eagle Ridge” and was a communicant of St. Luke’s RC church in Toms River, NJ. He was a loving father, grandfather and great grandfather and will be greatly missed by all. Mr. Kelly is predeceased by his wife Mary “May” in 2013. James is survived by his son, James M. Kelly Jr and his wife Karin, three daughters, Arlene Strano and her husband Fred, Patricia Taylor and her husband Robert, and Mary Kelly-Swafford and her husband Albert, thirteen grandchildren, Michael, Jackie, Janice, Jim, Ryan, Michelle, Thomas, Daniel, Shana, Jack, Stephanie, Jacob and Shelby, five great grandchildren, Kasey, Connor, Chloe, Cali and Emma and siblings, Thomas Kelly and Veronica Kelliher. Visitation will be held on Monday, July 27, 2015 from 2-4 and 7-9 pm at the D’Elia Funeral Home 1300 Vermont Ave. Lakewood, NJ 08701. Funeral Mass will be held on Tuesday, July 28, 2015 at 10:30AM at the St. Luke’s Church in Toms River. Cremation will be held privately. In lieu of flowers please make donations in James’ memory to the American Cancer Society.