James Kelly Obituary

URBANA - James M. Kelly Sr., 102, of Urbana passed away Thursday (May 30, 2024).

Born Dec. 29, 1921, in Findlay, he was one of nine children of Timothy Milton Kelly and Ruth Blythe Frazier Kelly. The family moved to Urbana in 1925.

James was preceded in death by his parents; four brothers, Elston Ward, Walter Kendall, Paul Tyrus and Robert Walker; four sisters, Ola Margorine, Ione Imogene, Eleanor Ruth and Marjoorie Geneese; a son-in-law, Ken Johnson; and a daughter in-law, Anita Morris.

Survivors include four grandchildren, Kelly (Eric) Johnson of St. Joseph, Kevin (Brandon) Bowersox-Johnson of Seattle, Jaime Hagg of Tuscola and Kathrine (Erik) Hagerman of Sidney; and seven great-grandchildren, Abigayl, Parker, Bryce, Samantha, Garrett, Aneela and Erik Jr.

As a preteen, James caddied at the Urbana Country Club. He remembered caddying for Horton Smith, the first Master's champion, in 1932.

He graduated from Urbana High School in 1940. Right out of high school, he went to work on the P&E Railroad. When World War II broke out in 1941, he registered for the draft but was denied because his job at the railroad was declared essential. He continued to petition the railroad to be released to go fight for his country. On Jan. 1, 1944, they did just that.

The United States Marine Corps flew him to Camp Pendleton, and he was assigned to the Fifth Service Battalion, 28th Marine Regiment of the 5th Marine Division. The next stop was the Battle of Iwo Jima. He fought for our country for the entire 36-day battle.

He married Leila Mae Roughton, his high school sweetheart, on July 8, 1944, in Los Angeles. She waited for him to return by working on the assembly line manufacturing airplanes to be used in the war. He would affectionately call her his Rosie the Riveter. She passed away on July 18, 2010, after 66 years of marriage.

His favorite actor was John Wayne, who bought him a beer in Laguna beach, Calif. He returned from the war to Urbana on May 10, 1946, to begin a family with Leila. They have a surviving daughter, Cheryl ("CJ") Ann Johnson of St. Joseph, and son, James Milton Kelly II of Palmetto, Fla.

James was hired in 1958 by the Urbana Fire Department, where he worked until semi-retirement in 1976. He was the treasurer for the Urbana Municipal Credit Union. When his wife, Leila, retired from Illinois Bell 1984, they became snowbirds, staying in Tropic Isles Mobile Home Park in Palmetto from November to April.

James Sr. was a charter member of the World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C., and New Orleans and a lifetime member of the VFW, American Legion, Masons and the Marine Corps League. He belonged to the Elks Club for 40 years.

He has been recognized for various accomplishments by state Sen. Stan Weaver, U.S. Rep. Tim Johnson, Govs. Dwight Green, James Thompson and George Ryan, Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White and presidents Donald Trump and Joe Biden. In 1995, he was proud to be one of six grand marshals to lead the Champaign County Freedom Celebration's Fourth of July parade. He was most proud when Urbana Mayor Diane Marlin presented him with the key to the city on Dec. 20, 2020.

Though a hero to his family, friends and community, James never hesitated to say his heroes were those who never made it home from war and the women who stayed in the States, manufacturing necessary military equipment.

Visitation will be from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday, June 5, at Renner-Wikoff Chapel, 1900 Philo Road, Urbana, with funeral services to follow at 1 p.m. Kevin Bowersox-Johnson will officiate. Graveside services with military rites will be in Woodlawn Cemetery, Urbana, followed by a reception at VFW Post 630, 1303 E. Main St., Urbana.

Condolences may be offered at rennerwikoffchapel.com.