KELLEY, John F.- Of Peabody, formerly of Malden, Everett and Charlestown, July 3rd. Devoted husband for 67 years to Catherine (O'Shea). Beloved father of Maureen Graham and her late husband Stephen of West Union, SC, Nancy Kelley and Theresa Gallivan of Newton and Andrea Kelley of Newbury, NH. Brother of Arthur Kelley of Marstons Mills and the late Margaret Rizzo, Ann Cassidy, Julia Schiff and Josephine Gertz. Cherished grandfather of Jeffrey Taylor and his wife Kelly, Julie Taylor-Massey and her husband Drew, Emma Deschamps and Nicholas Deschamps. Also lovingly survived by his great grandchildren, John and jackson Taylor, Breck and Brooke Massey as well as many nieces and nephews. Family and friends are kindly invited to attend a Funeral from the Carroll Funeral Home, 721 Salem Street, (Maplewood Square) MALDEN on Tuesday, July 8th at 8 AM followed by a Funeral Mass celebrated in St. Joseph's Church, 770 Salem St., Malden at 9 o'clock. Visiting Hours in the Carroll Funeral Home on Monday from 4-8 PM. Services will conclude with interment at Woodlawn Cemetery, Everett.
Born in Boston 95 years ago, growing up in Charlestown and attending Boston English where he was considered the best running back to come out of Charlestown, John passed away at the Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston early Thursday morning. In his early years, the family moved to Everett, and John, before entering military service, went to work at Schraffs Candy in Sullivan Square to help support his family.
Waiting for the Army Air Force to draft him on February 4, 1942. After 2 months of basic traing at Fort Lee, Virginia. After spending 9 months in western Maryland and then in Charlotte, NC, things were beginning to get serious. On June 6, 1944, Eisenhower and the troops invaded France. Wanting to see action, Johnvolunteered to go overseas. He was sent to Hawaii, Wheeler Field Air Base among other camps. From there he was sent to Iwo Jima, where he remained for 7 months. The war ended in August 1945 and he was discharged on Thanksgiving Eve, November 21, 1945.
Returning to civilian life, he soon found his career niche, newpaper advertising. Working for different papers over his employ, he found the perfect palace with the Salem Evening News, where he remained for over 20 years until his retirement.
Retirement didn't slow him down, he enjoyed planning trips with his wife of 67 years, Catherine, gardening, a fanatic with baseball stats and historical facts, an avid newspaper reader and above all a devoted family man and active in the affairs of St. Joseph's Church, where he was a member of St. Joseph's Men's Club and was a collector at the weekend masses.