Richard James Skelly

Richard James Skelly Sr., 84 died peacefully on Wednesday November 19th, 2025, at his home in Jacksonville, FL. He was born in Jacksonville, FL on December 14, 1940, son of the late Arthur J. Skelly and Helen D. Skelly.

Richard was a wonderful father, as well as a grandfather and great-grandfather. As a young man he attended Landon High School in Jacksonville FL where he excelled at football. He played the position of half back. He would later attend the University of Florida and play for the Gator football team from 1959 to 1962. He was drafted by the NFL New York Giants in the second round and the AFL Oakland Raiders in the sixth round. This was before those leagues merged to become the NFL in 1966. After two years with the New York Giants he was released due to a knee injury. He, his wife Gloria and their eldest son Ricky moved back to Jacksonville FL where he began a 38-year career in sales. He worked at companies such as Xerox, McGraw Hill Publishing and AT&T.

When his sons were younger, he could always be found throwing a football, baseball or swinging a golf club with his boys. They loved to go dove and quail hunting and spent many a weekend out in the woods with their English pointers looking for quail. While in college he rebuilt an old Willies World War II Jeep and it was in this vehicle that he and his boys went out on many of those quail hunting expeditions. He taught his three sons how to drive using that, Jeep. Richard was a good man, who loved his family and he will be missed greatly.

He is survived by his three sons, Richard J. Skelly Jr., Gregory S. Skelly, and Thomas D. Skelly, and Tonya D. Skelly (Daughter-in-law) He is also survived by his three granddaughters Sophia Skelly Creech, Chloe Skelly Mendoza, and Tessa N. Skelly as well as his three grandsons Tyler E. Skelly, Ryan A. Skelly, and Zach R. Skelly. Lastly, he is survived by his seven great grandchildren Allie, Niko, Selah, Sabbath, Lilly, Isla and Max.

There will be a private family graveside memorial at a date to be determined.