James Kelley

Approachable, driven, and hardworking are just a few of the words that describe James Kelley. He was determined to accomplish the things he set his mind to, and he believed that it was alright to fail as long as you tried. Jim was blessed to share most of his life with his best friend with whom he welcomed the children and grandson he loved more than life itself. Well known within the Grand Rapids running community, he was an accomplished runner who not only worked hard to achieve his goals, but he also came alongside others to help them achieve theirs. Jim’s zest for life was contagious, and his devotion to the people and things he was passionate about was unmatched. He will be dearly missed while his memory is forever cherished.

During the decade that brought us the Beach Boys, compact cars, and the first man on the moon, Robert and Joyce Kelley welcomed the healthy baby boy they named James Donald into their hearts and home on May 16, 1962, in Kalamazoo, Michigan. He was the third of four children in his family, raised alongside his brothers, Jerry and Scott, and his sister, Debbie. Jim’s father worked for Upjohn while his mother was a homemaker. Jim was known for getting into mischief as it was not uncommon for him to shoot BB’s into his bedroom wall, light the garage on fire, or skip school to go fishing. His brother, Jerry, did his best to reign him in, but Jim’s spirit of adventure was persistent. Jim attended Comstock High School where he loved wood shop. He was also on the baseball team.

After graduating from high school in 1980, Jim worked in food service at Calvin College. It was his personal life that soon grew interesting, however. One night he called up some of his friends, who happened to be girls, to see who could go with him to a midnight movie. They were all busy, but their roommate, Teri Hendrix, was available, so they went to see the The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Two weeks after the movie she called Jim to go out, and they were inseparable ever since. Three months later they were engaged, and they were married on November 26, 1983, at Garfield Park Christian Reformed Church.

They settled on the Northeast side of town, and Jim set to work in a meat packing facility. However, his heart was always in painting and decorating so he jumped at the opportunity when Dave Spykerman invited him to work alongside him. A few years later, Jim was ready to head off on his own, and he purchased William Sterk Painting and Decorating. He specialized in residential painting and was meticulous in his work even if it meant doing a job over or working on the weekend.

Together Jim and Teri were blessed with two children, Amber in 1987 and Cory in 1993. In 1996 their growing family built a home on Geddes Avenue, NW, where they remained until 2012 when they moved to Cascade. Since Jim loved the water, they also purchased a condo between Spring Lake and Grand Haven. He was a very involved father, especially when it came to his kids’ school projects including Amber’s 5th grade science project that has been described as “epic.” Cory appreciated his father building the sandbox and swing set as well as his pinewood derby cars that always had impressive paint jobs, of course. As a father Jim could be emotional at times such as when Amber left for college and when he and Cory finished a race together.

To say Jim was an avid runner is an understatement as he was a member of the Grand Rapids Running Club and completed countless races including several marathons. Jim had his own running goals to be sure, but he was also all about encouraging others whether his children, those in the running club, or a friend trying to finish a marathon as it was not uncommon for him to run back onto the course to run alongside someone after he finished his own race. He and Cory did several races together including the Fifth Third River Bank Run. Cory was never able to beat his dad until the Kent City Bridge Run - one of Jim’s proudest moments. Jim recently had a sub three hour goal for the marathon, and he came so close in the Grand Rapids Marathon with a finish of 3:06, which didn’t make him too happy. He often went out running at four in the morning, which allowed him to take it easy after work, although he always denied falling asleep in his chair! Jim was the cross-country coach for a local charter school, even taking them to state the past two years. He was thrilled to welcome his grandson, Liam, into the family, and he had big plans of running the next River Bank Run with Liam in a stroller.

In addition to running, Jim enjoyed other things. He loved watching sports with Cory and was a Tigers fan, and he also liked to sing along with some of his favorites by the Rolling Stones or Johnny Cash, although he never seemed to get the words right. Jim usually had NPR on while at work and was a wealth of knowledge on various subjects. He was also known for his sweet tooth, even on the job. He more recently got into Facebook and texting, and it has been said that he was developing a bit of a “problem” with these things.

All who knew James Kelley would agree that no one met him and left unchanged. He was the sort of person who would help anyone, and he could talk to anyone and everyone. Jim was a bit of a perfectionist who was always on the go with a nickname for everyone that always seemed to be changing. He was loyal, fair, and hardworking, and he inspired all who knew him just by the way he lived his daily life. Running was his passion, but his heart belonged first and foremost to his family. Taken from his loved ones much too soon, Jim will never be forgotten.

James D. Kelley, aged 51, of Grand Rapids passed away unexpectedly on November 4, 2013. He was preceded in death by his father, Robert Kelley; and father-in-law, Jim Hendrix. Jim is survived by Teri, his wife of nearly 30 years; children, Amber and Cory Kelley; grandson, Liam; mother, Joyce Kelley; and siblings, Debbie (Don) Hale; Jerry (Tonya) Kelley and Scott (Vicki) Kelley. Also surviving are his mother-in-law, Joan Hendrix; sister-in-law, Janet (Terry) Seagrave; brothers-in-law, Scott (Therese) Hendrix;and Mark (Andrea) Hendrix; several nieces, nephews, grand nieces and nephews; and countless friends. The Celebration of Life service will be held at 11 AM on Saturday November 9, 2013, at First Evangelical Covenant Church, 1933 Tremont St. NW (Running attire is requested). Friends are invited to visit with his family on Friday from 2-4 and 6-8 PM at Heritage Life Story Funeral Homes, 2120 Lake Michigan Dr. NW. Contributions in his memory may be made to Strides for Life or MyTeam Triumph-W. Michigan Chapter. Please visit www.lifestorynet.com to read more of Jim's lifestory, archive a memory, photo, or sign the guestbook online.