James Kelley

Jim was born to Heyser and Genrose Kelley on November 21, 1945, and lived his first fifteen years in Eastview. In 1960, his family moved to Elizabethtown. He always credited Elizabethtown High School with preparing him to graduate from Western Kentucky University and later the University College of Law.

Jim practiced law in Elizabethtown for over fifty years. He was long associated with his office building on West Poplar Street, which he occupied beginning in the 1970s. The handsome building, constructed in 1837, was decorated by Jim with University of Kentucky basketball memorabilia. In the 1990s, he took it a step further, painting the building “Wildcat blue” during the excitement of the Pitino era at Kentucky. He loved the Wildcats.

Jim also loved the practice of law. Until recently, he was at the office at some point seven days a week. He especially enjoyed land dispute cases. In those matters, he would take graph paper, a compass, and a protractor and, using the property description in the deed, plot the disputed boundary lines—often long before a surveyor completed a formal survey.

Jim is survived by his wife of 35 years, Sherry Keith Kelley; a special cousin, Phillis Mefford; and his dog, Kelley. Although not officially family, his last secretary, Shauna Wieland, was much closer to family than employee. As health issues developed, Shauna assumed additional responsibilities that allowed Jim to continue practicing law, for which he was truly grateful.

In 1989, Jim was overheard saying that he intended to be taken out of his office for the last time “feet first.” He nearly reached that goal. At eighty years old and in declining health, he made his final trip to the office on Thursday, January 22—just three days before his death.

Brown Funeral Home has been chosen to handle the burial arrangements.

At Jim’s request, there will be no visitation or service. Never doubt, however, that he was deeply loved and will be greatly missed.