Leland James Kelley, age 64, passed away on December 25, 2011 at home surrounded by his family.
Calling hours will be at French Family Funeral Home, Star Lake on Thursday, from 1 – 3 and 6 – 8 p.m. His funeral service will be held on Friday, December 30, 2011 at 11:00 a.m. at the funeral home.
Leland was born on January 27, 1947 in Gouverneur to the late George H. Kelley, Sr. and Rachel (Finley) Kelley. He attended school at Clifton-Fine Central until enlisting in the U.S. Army during tenth grade.
He married his high school sweetheart, Corina “Corky” Moote on May 27, 1967 in the St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Fine. The couple moved to the Ridge Road in Oswegatchie in 1975.
Mr. Kelley worked as a machine tender for the Newton Falls Paper Mill from 1967 until the mill closed in 2001.
Leland was a perfectionist who took great pride in his work. He liked to putter and work with wood. He also enjoyed hunting, fishing, and riding his four-wheeler. Above all, he loved time spent with his family. Leland was a wild life rehabilitation activist who worked with deer. He was a member of the Benson-Mines American Legion, the N.R.A., and a former member and commissioner of the Fine Fire Department.
His survivors include his wife, Corky; son Scott of Oswegatchie; daughters Lisa Kelley and her companion Patti LaDuke of Peru, and Tonya Kelley-Lamica and her husband, Michael of Oswegatchie; brother Alvin and Judy Kelley of Alaska; sisters Helen Manchester of Louisiana, Evelyn Law of Minnesota, Eva Gibbons of Oswegatchie, and Carolyn Aldridge of Florida; and seven grandchildren, Andreu, Michael, Erin, Zack, Abbie, Emily, and Sean.
He was predeceased by a daughter, Angela Kelley; a brother, George Kelley Jr.; and a sister, Lucille Cook.
Donations made in memory of Leland may be made to the Benson-Mines American Legion or to Wildlife Rehabilitation Conservation.
