James E. 'Jim' Kelley

James E. ‘Jim’ Kelley, 87, of Santo, passed away on Wednesday, June 7, 2023.

Funeral services for Jim will be at 10:00 AM Tuesday, June 13th at Stephenville Funeral Home Chapel with Brother Chris Weaver officiating.  Burial will follow at West End Cemetery, with Masonic graveside rites.

Jim was born on November 19, 1935 in Stephenville to the late R. P. and Annie Ruth Jones Kelley. He grew up in Stephenville, graduated from Stephenville High School in 1954, and attended Tarleton State University where he played various sports. Jim spent over 34 years in the U. S. Air Force Reserves. Jim was married to Louan Carpenter and raised their two daughters in Burleson, where they resided over 25 years. While in Burleson, Jim coached boys baseball and after much pleading from his daughter, he agreed to coach a girls softball team, and enjoyed coaching girls for many years. He was always ready to tell you how good his teams were. He was instrumental in starting the Burleson Youth Association. Jim has loved living at his lake house on Lake Palo Pinto for the past 40 years, and loved his church, the First Baptist Church of Santo, and his friends there. Jim enjoyed traveling, fishing, and playing golf. He was a current member of the Santo Masonic Lodge # 836, where he recently received his 50 year pin. Jim retired from the Texas Highway Department after 25 years and then retired again from Wright Asphalt at age 80. He was known far and wide in the asphalt world.

Jim is survived by his wife, Jo Ann Miller Kelley; daughters, Suzanne and husband Keith Morton of Burleson, and Dee Ann and husband Jerry Garcia of Burleson, grandchildren, Chance and wife Jill Morton, Challey and husband Tommy Hernandez, Chelsey and husband Wes Johnson, Katelyn Garcia, and Brooklyn Garcia; great grandchildren, Kyla and Kain Johnson, Camden, Ruby and Jase Morton, and King, Remi, and Laeli Hernandez; brother, Ray and wife Sue Kelley; and sisters, Kathy and husband Harold Pickelsimer, and Kim Dyer. 

Besides his parents, Jim was also preceded in death by his second wife, Mary Martin.

The Kelley family wish expressions of sympathy be made in the form of donations to the First Baptist Church of Santo @fbcsanto.com.

Jim's favorite color was blue.  The Kelley family would like for all those who can attend his services on Tuesday to honor Jim by wearing BLUE.

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