James Leroy Kelly 74 of Silver City, New Mexico, died on June 28, 2016, following a brief illness. Cremation has taken place under the direction of Bright Funeral Home.

Jim was born in 1942 in Washington, D.C. His father was killed during combat about three years later, following the D-Day invasion of Normandy.

Soon after, the family, which included a sister, moved to California, where Jim was introduced to theater and acting. He received his first membership card in the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) and got a role in the movie, "The Day the Earth Stood Still." Kelly recalled recently that it involved little more than yelling an alarm. "I wasn't even clearly seen on the screen."

Following college at Cal State Hayward, where he received a degree in English and journalism, Kelly began a full time career as a reporter and columnist for several Bay Area newspapers, while also acting in summer stock and other theatrical performances.

In the 1970s Jim worked as a character actor on the famed TV series, "Little House on the Prairie." He also appeared in "Father Murphy." Later, he worked as a researcher for the famed "Follies" in Palm Springs, California.

Kelly and his wife, Linda, moved to Silver City in 2006, where Jim performed volunteer work for several organizations, including serving as a board member for the Silver City Museum. He created the Silver City poet laureate program and was a co-founder of the Southwest Festival of the Written Word. He also helped produce a Christmas play that was performed at WNMU in 2014. Most recently, he volunteered at Single Socks.

A Navy veteran, Jim was always blessed with a sharp wit and sense of humor. He enjoyed the companionship of like-minded friends, especially a group he shared a beer with once a week.

Jim Kelly is survived by his wife, Linda; a sister, Pat Springer, of Lothian, Maryland; and a brother, Roy Jamerson, of Fredericksburg, Virginia.

Bright Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements, "Traditional Services and Care for your family and friends", 210 W. College Ave., Silver City, New Mexico, 575-388-1911.

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