James E. Kelly, 84, of New Smyrna Beach, FL, and Lockport, NY, passed away Tuesday, July 6, in Florida. He was born in Jamestown, NY, on December 7, 1936, the son of Clarence and Maude Nichols Kelly.

Jim was a graduate of Westfield Central School and Jamestown Community College, and he attended the Columbia University program for hospital administration. He was employed as the assistant director of finance at Westfield Memorial Hospital for 33 years. Following his retirement from the hospital, Jim was sales and marketing director for Jamestown Credit Bureau until an illness forced a second retirement.

He was a communicant of the Our Lady Star of the Sea Roman Catholic Church in New Smyrna Beach, All Saints Roman Catholic Parish in Lockport, and SS. Peter & Paul Roman Catholic Church in Jamestown.

Jim was a friend to all he met and devoted his adult life to giving back to the community and serving others. During his time in Chautauqua County, he was a member of the Westfield Jaycees, becoming president of the local chapter in 1969-70. He went on to become a district president in the New York Jaycees in 1970-71 and a national director of the United States Jaycees in 1969-70, he was inducted into the New York JCI Senate in 1989. In 1979, Jim served on the executive board of the Chautauqua County Emergency Medical Services Council. He was a a 40-year volunteer with the Chautauqua American Red Cross and served as its president in 1976-77. Jim enjoyed many years at Chautauqua and was a member of the Chautauqua Fire Department, serving as its president in 1978 and 1989.

Jim continued his volunteer efforts with Hospice Chautauqua County as a member of its board of directors in 1990-97, and he served as its chairman in 1996-97. He was a past member of the AM Rotary in Jamestown, where he received the Paul Harris Award from Rotary International. A 33rd Degree Mason, Jim was a past master of Summit Lodge #219 in Westfield, Grand Lodge officer of the Grand Lodge of the State of New York, Commander in Chief of the Valley of Jamestown Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite, and a member of Red Jacket Lodge #646 in Lockport. He was also a past board member of the Frank and Bette Paul 32nd Degree Masonic Learning Center for Children in Rochester, NY.

In the 1960s, Jim managed a YMCA boys’ basketball program in Dunkirk, NY. In 1992, he launched the Westfield Memorial Hospital Foundation/Associates charity golf tournament at the Chautauqua Golf Course, and he organized the event for several seasons. The inaugural tourney was the first time that beer, wine, and soda circulated on the course during play time, along with snacks and food and a grand dinner in the early evening with drawings for special prizes.

Jim is survived by his wife of 34 years, Sally (Swanson) Kelly, whom he married on August 7, 1987, at the Chapel of the Good Shepherd in Chautauqua, his daughters Barbara Kauffman of Knox Dale, PA, Debra (Andy) Hopkins of Celina, TX, granddaughter Maudie Kauffman of Frisco, TX, step-sons John Sember of Altamonte Springs, FL, Steven Sember of New Smyrna Beach, FL, step-grandson Eric Sember of Buffalo, NY, cousin Carol (Don) Baumet of Westfield, NY, and sister-in-law Marilyn Drayer of Warren, PA.
He was proceeded in death by his parents, brother Robert Kelly, step-son – Mark Sember, cousins Ruth Hurlbert and Linda Delcamp, and brother-in-law Richard Drayer.

Friends may call at the Donald E. Lewis Funeral Home, Inc., 304 East Street, Warren, PA, on Tuesday, July 13,2021 from 6:00 to 8:00 P.M., where a Masonic service will be conducted at 5:45. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church, 600 Pennsylvania Avenue West, Warren, PA, at 11:00 A.M. on Wednesday, July 14, 201 with Fr. Richard Tomasone, Pastor, officiating. Interment will be in St. Joseph R.C. Cemetery, Warren, PA.

Those wishing to place memorials may do so to Chautauqua Hospice & Palliative Care, 20 W. Fairmount Avenue, Lakewood, NY 14750, or on their website at chpc.care. E-mail condolences may be sent by visiting www.lewisfuneralhomeinc.com.