Obituary Record

James L Kelley
Died on 7/24/2010

#1 Printed in the July 27, 2010 Pilot-Tribune

James L. Kelley, 86

James L. Kelley, 86, died Saturday, July 24, 2010, at the Norfolk Veterans Home in Norfolk.

Services will be 10 a.m. Wednesday, July 28, at Campbell-Aman Funeral Home in Blair, with interment at L'Eau Qui Court Cemetery in Niobrara. A lunch will follow at the Two Rivers Saloon in Niobrara.

Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, July 27, at the funeral home, with the family present from 7 to 8 p.m.

James L. "Ox" Kelley was born Sept. 18, 1923, in Rulo to James and Geneva (Hines) Kelley.

He married Dorothy Maxwell on Dec. 31, 1949, and the couple had six children.

Mr. Kelley proudly served his country as a sergeant in the United States Marine Corps through World War II and the Korean War, earning the Purple Heart in both wars for his courageous acts. He served six years as the Washington County Sheriff, and spent 45 years of his life as a tugboat captain on the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers, and as a seafaring captain along the Gulf of Mexico.

He had a great passion for the outdoors and enjoyed passing on his knowledge of the rivers and all their wonders to his family. He had many great stories of his journeys through life that never ceased to amaze and entertain his listeners. His sense of humor was known by all and will be greatly missed; but he left his family and friends with lots of laughs to share and good times to reminisce.

He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Dorothy; their children, Kathy and Jim Hunter and daughter, Lori, of Littleton, Colo.; Mike and Susie Kelley and their children, Maggie, Sarah, Erin, Jackie and Emily of Niobrara; Pat Kelley, also of Niobrara; Tim Kelly and sons, Lucas and Jesse, of Blair; Terry and Lisa Kelley and children, Christian, Jacob, Chase, and Makayla of Springfield, S.D.; Peggy and Curt Cassner and children, Bruce, Kelley, Abby and Aaron of Naples, Fla.; great-grandchildren, Hannah, Shyanne, Thomas and Jacob.

He was preceded in death by his siblings, Bill Kelley, Pat Kelley, and Dorothy Jensen.

#2 Funeral Leaflet

(many photos)

In Loving Memory of James L. Kelley

September 18, 1923 ~ July 24, 2010

Funeral service will be 10:00 AM Wednesday, July 28, 2010 at the Campbell-Aman Funeral Home with Burial to follow at L’Eau Qui Court Cemetery in Niobrara, NE and lunch at the Two Rivers Saloon in Niobrara, NE.

Pallbearers: Mike Kelley, Tim Kelley, Jim Hunter, Pat Kelley, Terry Kelley, Curt Cassner

Honorary Pallbearers: Luke Kelley, Bruce Cassner, Aaron Cassner, Thomas Bacon, Greg Drew, Roy Anderson, Denny Swaney, Chris Jensen, Jesse Kelley, Jacob Kelley, Chase Kelley, Bill Kelley, Kitt Kelley, Geneo Thomas, Charlie Schmidt, Kent Petersen

These Hands
These hands were born in Rulo, Nebraska in 19223.
These hands grew up through the depression.
These hands have 2 brothers and one sister.
These hands drove a Model T.
These hands served their country as a Sergeant in the
United States Marine Corps during
WWII and the Korean War.
These hands married Dorothy Maxwell on
December 31, 1949.
These hands have six wonderful children.
These hands have 16 grandchildren and
4 great-grandchildren.
These hands worked as a Tugboat & Sea-Faring Captain for
Forty-five years.
These hands are my hands, James “Ox” Kelley

Tribute by Chase Kelley: “The ‘Ox’ That Took Flight”

James “Ox” Kelley took any early flight as it seems to us…,
But to him he was going on a one way fishing trip. We all cry tears of sadness, but in our hearts we knew that he was gonna catch that 400 point catfish then tell us a big ol’ story about it… He lived through two wars and has loved many people. He, Great-Grandfather, Grandpa, Father, Husband, Brother and Son. Only a few titles for this great man…
He loved the river and its many creatures like God loves his people. He would make people laugh so hard they would have to sit down…
Yet he could make us cry in a second… He would tell us not to be sad because of him yet we would sneak in tears when he wasn’t looking…
Well now he is always looking from above, so stop the tears…
Grab a tomato drink and Rejoice in his life! As in the powerful message in the Bible-Both thorn and thistles it should bring forth, for us. For out of the ground we are taken for dust, and to the dust we shall return…My Grandpa was the golden dust taken out of the ground, and like us all, we shall return. Love, Chase Kelley

Campbell-Aman Funeral Home, 444 S. 17th Street, Blair, NE 68008-2017

~~~Obituary and funeral leaflet courtesy of Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings and leaflets on file in the Blair Public Library at Blair, Nebraska~~~

FindaGrave # 55449993

Printed in the Washington County Pilot-Tribune on 7/27/2010


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