James "JT" Kelley Jr.

James "JT" Kelley Jr. , 67, Mount Carmel, passed away on Sunday December 12 ^th at his home.

Born in Houston, TX, he was a son of the late James and Katie Lee Kelley.

JT was a retired United States Army Veteran having served from 1973 to 1993. He had been employed as a mechanic for Merck, Danville, from 1996 until his retirement in 2014.

Jim was a life member of the VFW, Mount Carmel and a member of the unknown riders. He was a 1972 graduate of Sam Rayburn High School, class of 1972.

He married his wife Kathleen Matukaitis on July 5, 2008 in Zion Reformed UCC Church, Ashland.

In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by his mother-in-law Geraldine Matukaitis and a brother-in-law Michael "Mickey" Matukaitis.

JT is survived by his wife Kathleen Matukaitis Kelley, his brother Richard Kelley, Atlas, step-children; Annie (Chris) Birster, Lavelle, Crystal Zelinski, Mt. Carmel, Tiffany Long and her partner Tyler Sanko, Ringtown and Jenna Bray, Mt. Carmel, Grandchildren; Kiara and Dylan Blocker, Wyatt, Kaylee and Raygen Long, Braelyn Strausser, Oliver Sanko, Max and Tessa Birster and Isabella Bray, Father-in-law Charles W. Matukaitis, Mt. Carmel, brother-in-law Shawn ( Tara ) Matukaitis, Sisters-in-law; Barbara (Todd) Cromer, NC, Carolyn Miller, MD, Susan ( Jim ) McHale, Locust Gap and Susan Rossi, Mt. Carmel he is also survived by his beloved pets Commander Cosmo, Private Bear and Princess Elsa.

Relatives and friends are invited to a visitation on Monday from 10 until 12 noon at the C. J. Lucas Funeral Home Inc., Mt. Carmel. Interment with military honors will follow at the Mount Carmel Cemetery.

Thomas M. Sullivan Funeral Home, Girardville, is in charge of arrangements.