Donald R Kelley

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Donald R. Kelley, of Manahawkin, NJ, who died on August 4, 2026, at the age of 91. He was a kind, generous person who expected little from those who loved him and gave much with his open and accepting heart.

Born in Beach Haven, NJ, on March 6, 1935, Don served in the United States Army and later worked at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard and Sun Shipbuilding & Drydock Co. In 1976 he returned to Long Beach Island, where he was the proprietor of Henry A. Reed Painting until his retirement. In 2015 he and his wife, Cecile, made their home in Manahawkin.

Don loved to sing and did so throughout his life at the many Methodist churches he attended including Terrace United Methodist Church, his final church home. Don sang bass for more than 30 years with the Boardwalk Barbershop Chorus, and it was in the quartet, the Baytones, that he did the singing he cared about most. When asked to sing at personal gatherings, he loved seeing the comfort he brought to families who were suffering and the joy on faces of families who were celebrating. Don will be remembered for his gentleness, his steady presence, and the love and joy he brought to our lives.

Don was preceded in death by his parents, Aetna and Thomas Kelley; his brothers, Thomas and Lawrence Kelley; and his sister, Patsy (Kelley) Brong. He is lovingly remembered by his wife, Cecile (Reed) Kelley; his daughters, Diane (Kelley) Turner and Jody (Kelley) Cogdell; his son, Donald T. Kelley and his beloved grandchildren George Turner IV, DC Kelley, Seth Kelley, Abigail (Kelley) Kolman, Aubrey Kelley-Cogdell and Jacqueline Kelley-Cogdell. Don also has eight cherished great-grandchildren.

A Memorial Service will be held on Tuesday, August 18, 2026 from 11:00am-1:00pm at Thos L. Shinn Funeral Home, 10 Hilliard Dr., Manahawkin, NJ.

A repast will follow at the funeral home.

To leave online condolences and fond memories of Donald for the family, please visit www.shinnfuneralhome.com