Thomas E. Kelley
1952-2022
Tom Kelley, a longtime resident of North Dighton, passed away unexpectedly at home.
Born April 21, 1952, Tom was the son of Tom and Nora (Crowninshield) Kelley. Tom was predeceased by his sister, Diana Kelley Turner of Riverside, RI and is survived by his brother, William Kelley and his wife, Sandy (Briggs), of Yarmouth, MA, and his sister, Elizabeth Buckley Fischbach and her husband, Joe, of Rehoboth, MA. In addition, Tom is survived by his loving blended siblings Mike Buckley and his wife, Mary, of Charlotte, NC, Dan Buckley and his wife, Monica, of Somerset, MA, and Sue Murphy and her husband, Tom, of East Taunton, MA. Uncle of Jennifer Vieira of Riverside, RI, Sean Kelley of Berkley, Ryan Kelley of North Dighton, Meagan Kelley of Yarmouth, Kelley Sontag of Plainville, and Sarah Fischbach of Rehoboth.
Tom was a graduate of Dighton-Rehoboth High School and Southern Maine Technical College. After graduation, he started a career in the maritime industry and worked as an engineer on the Canadian American Cruise Line. He was offered the opportunity to sail a boat to St. Croix in the early 1980’s and ended up living there for many years before moving back to Massachusetts and accepting a position at Veolia North America as a wastewater technician. He retired from Veolia in 2017.
Tom was an avid sportsman who would rather be outdoors than inside – boating, fishing, hiking, hunting, skiing, scuba diving or riding his Harley. He was an animal lover, card player, reader, gardener, and photographer. His memory will live on in his family and friends who knew him, and he will be greatly missed. Donations in Tom’s memory can be made to the Mass Audubon Society. Calling hours will be held at the O’Keefe-Wade Funeral Home, 70 Washington Street in Taunton January 10th Tuesday night from 5-7 PM. A service will be held at 6:30 Pm Tuesday night. Interment will be private.