Roger M. Kelly

Roger M. “Mike” Kelly, 96, of Oxford, MD and Vero Beach, FL, died suddenly on Monday, April 21, 2008 in Florida after returning from a family visit at his home in Oxford, MD. Mr. Kelly was born in Towson, MD, the second of three sons of Patrick J. and Margaret Hughes Kelly, on November 4, 1911. He was educated at Immaculate Conception in Towson, Calvert Hall College in Baltimore, attended the University of Maryland and graduated from the University of North Caroline at Chapel Hill. Mr. Kelly’s extensive business career, spanning over fifty years, began in Washington, D.C. working for the Commerce Department. After obtaining his CPA certificate, Mr. Kelly worked for F.W. Lafrentz in Baltimore until 1941. On December 8, 1941 Mr. Kelly enlisted in the U.S. Navy as an ordinary seaman. By War’s end he had attained the rank of Commander and was attached to the staff of Secretary Forrestal where he was in charge of aircraft procurement for the Navy. It was during the War that Mr. Kelly met and married Dorothy Morrell of Brightwaters, Long Island. Mrs. Kelly died in 1987. At the end of the war Mr. Kelly began working for Arthur Young & Co., an accounting firm in New York City. During his career at Arthur Young Mr. Kelly worked in New York and Boston. In 1958 he joined the Philadelphia and Reading Corporation in New York City as Executive Vice President. In 1961 Philadelphia & Reading was merged into Northwest Industries and Mr. Kelly retired. His retirement was short as he soon joined the Seaboard Coastline Railroad as Vice Chairman and Chief Financial Officer. His railroad career ended with the merger of SCL and the B&O/C&O Railroad to form what is now known as CSX Corporation. During his working career Mr. Kelly served on the Board of Directors of a number of publicly-traded companies including locally, Arundel Corporation, Eastmet, Mercantile Bankshares, and Easco. He also served on the Board of Washington College in Chestertown and the Talbot Country Club. During his retirement years Mr. Kelly split his time between his farm in Oxford, MD, where he bred Red Angus cattle, and his winter home in John’s Island, Vero Beach, FL. Mr. Kelly was active in his Florida community, a past member of he Board of Directors of the John’s Island Association and past chairman of the Finance Committee. Mr. Kelly is survived by his wife, Adele Read Kelly of Vero Beach; two children, Patricia Kelly Reynolds and her husband Thomas H. Reynolds, Jr. and Michael C. Kelly and his wife Lorraine W. Kelly all of Oxford; two grandchildren, Roger M. Kelly, II and his wife Meredith of Huntsville, AL and Brittany Kelly Drescher and her husband Michael of Nashville, TN; and six great-grandchildren. In addition to his wife, Dorothy, he was preceded in death by two brothers, James and John Kelly. Mr. Kelly’s greatest pleasure was his family and his beloved farm in Oxford, MD. His enthusiasm for life was exemplified in everything he did- his sports, his cattle and everyday life. He was committed to his faith in God, and is now enjoying the fulfillment of a life he always lived his way. A Memorial Mass was celebrated in Vero Beach, FL on Friday, April 25th. A Funeral Liturgy for Mr. Kelly will be celebrated on Tuesday, April 29, 2008 at 10:00 AM at Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic Church, Easton, MD, where he had been a parishioner for 47 years. Private burial will be at Oxford Cemetery, Oxford, MD. Memorial donations may be made to Talbot Hospice Foundation, 586 Cynwood Drive, Easton, MD 21601 or Talbot County Relay for Life, c/o the American Cancer Society, 1138 Parsons Road, Salisbury, MD 21801-0163, in honor of his family members. Arrangements are by Fellows, Helfenbein and Newnam Funeral Home, P.A., Easton, MD.

Roger M. Kelly

November 4, 1911 - April 21, 2008