James Michael "Mike" Kelley

James Michael "Mike" Kelley, 66 of Murfreesboro, TN, passed away Friday, May 29, 2015. A native of Memphis, TN, he was the son of the late James Wilburn and Thelma Jean Smith Kelley.

Mike is survived by his wife, Candace Marie Kirsch Kelley; children, Michael C. Kelley and his wife Chandy of Orlando, FL, Melissa Marie Porterfield and her husband Kendell, Jeremy J. Kelley and his wife Michelle, Jon J. Kelley and his wife Ashley, Joshua D. Kelley and his wife Claire, and Jessica Rose Kelley all of Murfreesboro, TN; grandchildren, Charlotte, Kinsley, Caden, Adalyn, Evie, Ian, Mollie and Lucy Kelley, Eliyah, Ava, Kaelyn and Karissa Porterfield; sister, Patricia Beatrice "Trish" McKay of Jacksonville, FL; brother, Paul Kelley of Conroe, TX.

Visitation with the family will be after 12 noon on Wednesday, June 3, 2015 at Woodfin Memorial Chapel with a 2 p.m. memorial service to follow with Pastor Manuel McGregor officiating.

Mike was a Christian, and loved Jesus. He was owner and CEO of American Steel Buildings.

Woodfin Memorial Chapel, (615) 893-5151. An online guestbook for the family is available at www.woodfinchapel.com.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by The Daily News Journal on May 31, 2015.

Memories and Condolences
for James Kelley

23 Entries

Randy / Genie Warbritton

May 23, 2025

Hope all your family are well and living the life GOD has laid out for you.. Blessings to all of you and love ...

william(Randy) warbritton

May 23, 2024

May GODS blessing still flow down to you and all your family .. Hope all are well . Rand & Genie Warbritton

Rand &Genie Warbritton

May 23, 2023

Dear sweet Candy and family ...my thoughts and prayers are with you always ....May God bless you and all your family

william WARBRITTON

May 23, 2022

Dear Sweet Candy and family ... Our hopes and prayers are with you and may GOD continue to bless you and you family

Rock Doddridge

May 28, 2019

What a friend Mike was to me in college. He even helped lead me to Christ, which resulted in my pastoring career. Several years ago, Mike and I were talking about those college days. He mentioned some crazy things we did, like renting motorbikes and riding them around the practice fields in the rain. To my surprise, Mike finished that sentence with this comment: "I didn't even want to do that but I knew that you were depressed and needed some friendship time." I didn't know that that was his awareness or motivation. I assumed he had wanted to do these "crazy things" as much as I did. Now I knew that wasn't so. That means the quality of friendship that Mike gave me went beyond sharing happy times to even include sacrificial giving when he saw my need. Mike was a friend always precious to me, a friend for life. Thanks be to his memory.

Rocky Doddridge

June 4, 2015

Mike Kelley and me.
Mike Kelley, our star linebacker, and I were standing in the stadium fall, 2010. He asked, "Which light pole was it?" I pointed, "That one." One night, my freshman year, before opening my life to Christ, I contemplated suicide. On a dark, moonless night, I walked into the football stadium between 1 AM and 2 AM. I stepped out onto the empty field. My eyes searched the light poles for one I could climb and, maybe, from which I could throw myself over the wall. I picked one in the empty, darkened stadium. That one. I began to climb the 100 rows or so to the top. Only when I got within 10-12 rows of the absolute top did my eyes register a lone person sitting there in the dark at the bottom of that precise light pole. He called out my name. I turned to get away. It was my best buddy, Mike Kelley, and he ran after me. He sat me down. He demanded to know what I was doing there. So I told him. He said, "Before you make a final decision as to whether you want to live or not, you have to consider the person of Jesus Christ. I have seen Jesus at work in my family. I have seen Jesus at work in my life. Consider the claims of Jesus Christ first before making a life decision."
How could that possibly have happened? I considered it miraculous even at the time, due to the impossibility of something like that being an accident. Mike and I were buddies. Against the University of Miami, Mike forced a fumble on one play. On the next play, I ran for a 75 yard touchdown. Mike and Jack Youngblood and I were the three captains on the freshman team. Mike told me the rest of the story this 2010 reunion trip. 40 years before, he was studying into the early morning hours. He heard a voice: "Go sit in the stadium." Mike's response was, "That could be you, God, but that is too weird." In a few more minutes he heard again, "Go sit in the stadium." This time he answered, "O.K., but it is still weird." Mike then told me what happened. "I walked into the massive stadium, picked a spot up high so I could figure out why I was there, and I sat down in the dark. No sooner had I taken a seat than you walked in. It was so dark I didn't even know it was you until you came close. But, you walked directly toward me like a force was drawing us to one another.
Mike listened and obeyed; my life was healed. What a forever friend.
With all my respect and love, Rocky Doddridge

Shela Barker Levesque

June 4, 2015

My heart grieves for you family. Mike and I were classmates in Junior High School and even as a teenager he was an outstanding human being. Kind, gentle, caring and always fair. He always had an adult sense of right and wrong, consistently choosing the correct path. I can only imagine how outstanding he became as an adult! I am so very sorry for your loss. Our classmates will remember him always with great fondness.

John Lawshe

June 3, 2015

So sorry to hear of Mike's passing. We were students together at Glenridge Jr High, where he left an enduring legacy. My condolences to his family, may you find peace.

Scott Nathan

June 3, 2015

My deepest sympathies go out to you and your family. May God give you the comfort and peace that you seek.

Lana McElroy

June 3, 2015

For Mike ,his Beautiful Wife and his Great Family .. With God's Love and mine .......

Rand & Genie Warbritton

June 2, 2015

Dear sweet Candy and all the Kelleys' .I am so sorry that Mike has left us. I know you are in The Lords care but please know that there are lots of people who care about you guys and all of our thoughts are with you and your family. Mike and I were in the trenches together as well as many years after. He will be missed and I know he is in good hands now. Please let us know if there is anything we can do to assist you in your time of grief. We love you and our thoughts are with you and your family.

James Kirsch

June 1, 2015

My thoughts and prayers are with each and every member of the Kelley family. Mike will always be lovingly remembered for his unwavering devotion to our Lord. His children are a fine testimony to the example he and Candy have set. My love to all of you, Uncle Jim

Roy & Sharon Fields

June 1, 2015

We are so sorry for your loss. We have loss a great God fearing man. We are so proud to have known him and his family. What a wonderful legacy he has left in each of you. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.

Uncle Bill Kirsch

June 1, 2015

Dear Candy & Family:May God Bless all of you and carry you through this difficult time, knowing that Mike is continually praying for you. May Mike's soul through the mercy of God rest in peace.

Dan and MaryKay Kirsch

June 1, 2015

"For the LORD your God is the one who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory."(Deuteronomy 20:4).
I did not know Mike well, Candy, but I am confident that he fought the good fight, with God leading the way, and you by his side. Blessings to you and your sons and daughters as you cherish the memories.

Craig Marlatt

June 1, 2015

Dear Candy and family.

My family and I have been so thankful to have known all of you for these many years. For me, meeting you and Mike was the beginning of my life of service to Christ.

We have watched each others children grow and have children of their own. Even though we are far away from you in miles our hearts are there with you in both tears and joy at Mike's final graduation. I know the strength that was so prominent in his life will flow through to each of you in the coming days, knowing that it won't be long before all of us are together again with those who went before us.

We will miss Mikes smile and his strong prayers on our behalf.

May God's continuous blessings be with you and keep you safe and filled with the Holy Spirit now and for all of your remaining days before you see Mike again in Eternal Bliss.
We love you all very much.

Craig, Jolyn and all of the Marlatt family

Michelle Lindsay

June 1, 2015

Mom and I are praying for you and the family that God will surround you all with His loving embrace and His peace, comfort and hope for the days ahead. We love you!

David and Julie Kirsch

May 31, 2015

Dear Can and family, you are in our thoughts and prayers during this difficult time. We all know Mike was a terrific husband, father, grandfather and faithful friend to many. He will be missed. God Bless you all. Love Dave and Julie

May 31, 2015

Sending our sincere condolences on the loss of Mike Kelley, my fellow teammate at the University of Florida from 1967-1969. To Candy and family, may the good memories comfort you. Our thoughts are with you at this difficult time.

Sincerely, Mike and Miriam Palahach,
Coral Gables, Florida

Charlie Carter

May 31, 2015

Candy: I know your family and faith will be your support during this time of loss. Your STA and UF family extend heartfelt sympathy.

Paul and Patty Messier

May 30, 2015

Our thoughts and prayers are with you all. We love Mike very much and will miss him and we pray that it gives you comfort to know that he is now home with Our Lord Jesus where there is no more pain nor suffering. We love you Can, Michael, Missy, Jeremy, Jon, Josh, Jessy and your families.
Uncle Paul and Aunt Patty

Showing 1 - 23 of 23 results