James P. Kelly Jr., age 90, passed away on Wednesday, Feb. 23, 2023. A Nashville, Tenn., native, he was the son of Thelma Ballard Kelly and restaurateur James Patrick Kelly Sr.
He attended Castle Heights Military Academy and Vanderbilt University. Jimmy married Marion Ruth Carson while proudly serving in the United States Air Force during the Korean War. His professional career spanned over 35 years with a national business consulting firm beginning in Nashville to Atlanta, Washington D.C., Houston and back to Atlanta. Upon retirement as the COO, he and Ruth returned to Nashville to be with family.
After the death of his beloved wife of 65 years, he moved to Lake Charles, La to the Verandah Retirement Community where he pursed his passion of playing golf at the Graywood Plantation Golf Club. An avid golfer, he shot his age and experienced the pleasure making three holes in one. He met a new family whom he grew to love while at the Verandah. He was a devout Catholic who attended mass at St. Martin de Porres and in later years attended Catholic Mass on Thursday mornings at the Verandah. Daddy Jim, as he was affectionately called by his grandchildren, proudly served as a mentor to his children and grandchildren.
Jimmy was preceded in death by his wife, Ruth Kelly, his parents, James and Thelma Kelly, his three sisters, Barbara Ann Hunt, Linda Myatt and Shirley Johnson.
Those left to cherish his memory are his son, Carson Kelly and wife Barbara of Nashville, Tenn.; daughter, Karen Henderson and her husband, Chuck of Welsh, La.; grandchildren, Patrick Kelly (Brenna), Andrew Kelly (Amy), Laine Hudson (Austin), Kelly Hurt (Lance), and Tyler Henderson (Kelly); twelve great-grandchildren, one sister, Peggy Hiller of Nashville, Tenn.
Please note a Celebration of Life Service will be held in Nashville, Tenn., at a later date.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.hixsonwelsh.com for the Kelly family.