Roland J. Kelley, 87, formerly of Agawam Village, Ipswich, died Tuesday, November 26, 2013 in the Golden Living Healthcare Center, Gloucester, following his long illness. He was the husband of the late Edith A. (Fowler) Kelley.

Born in Ipswich June 9, 1926 son of the late Louis and Belhia (Babineau) Kelley, he was raised in Ipswich where he attended public schools.  During WWII he proudly served with the U.S. Navy aboard two ships in the Pacific.  Honorably discharged and returning to Ipswich he went to work as a taxi driver and a clammer. Married in 1950 the Kelleys made their home and raised their family on Old England Road. For many years he was employed by the Town of Ipswich as a truck driver for the Highway and Cemetery Departments.   

Roland enjoyed vegetable gardening, clamming and fishing with his boys, long walks and watching sports, Westerns and the Three Stooges.

He is survived by two sons, Roland Kelley, Jr. and his wife Maureen, and James Kelley , all of Ipswich; two daughters, Darlene M. Spaulding of Daytona Beach, FL and Arlene M. Barboro and her husband Terrance of Rowley; twenty-two grandchildren; eleven great grandchildren  and a sister Florence Cobb of Georgetown. He was the father of the late Bruce Kelley and brother of the late Richard Kelley, both formerly of Ipswich.

His funeral service with Military Honors will be held 11 am Saturday, December 7, 2013 in the Cowles Memorial Cemetery, Town Farm Rd., Ipswich. Family and friends are respectfully welcomed. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Whittier-Porter Funeral Home of Ipswich.