Justian Adeal Kelly Jr. of Long Valley, NJ, passed away on Saturday, September 2, 2023. He was 81.
Born in Martinsville, Virginia, Justian was the son of the late Justian Adeal Kelly Sr. and Helen Mae Floyd. He graduated from Virginia Tech. Everyone knew how much he loved his alma mater from his outfits, license plate, and his alumni trips to the big game, where he would march with his M company. He made friends that lasted a lifetime. Justian served in the army from 1964 until 1970. His rank was Captain.
Justian loved to read, mostly books on war. He was a World War II enthusiast. He worked hard so he could take those much-needed family vacations to either the beach or trips to Disney. He loved animals, especially his dogs. He always had a dog treat nearby, and they knew it. He always kept 4 things in his pocket: mint candies, nose spray to clear his sinuses, tissues, and his dad’s pocketknife. He had a sweet tooth. He made the best homemade pecan pies. He also loved yellow cake with chocolate icing and a scoop of vanilla ice-cream.
Justian was the hardest worker. He worked for 50 years over three different insurance companies including All-state, CNA, and Nazareth Mutual. He always rose to the top as a manager or president of each company. He went to work before the sun rose and came home faithfully for dinner.
The most important in Justian’s life was his relationship with the Lord. He served Him faithfully. He made sure that his family understood the value of being involved in the church community. He was quickly recognized in the church as a deacon and served as the chair of deacons on more then one occasion. Faithfully, Justian would wake up early in the morning, make a pot of coffee, read his Bible, and pray. He would keep a list of missionaries serving around the world that he would faithfully intercede for. He loved hosting Growth Group Bible studies at his house. His children did not ever leave the house without a “dad prayer” over them and a kiss. He loved to sing worship songs and hymns. Up until his passing, you could hear him hum hymns and recite scripture verses that he had memorized.
Everything that Justian did, he did for his family. He gave his time, money, and passion to his family. If he was away from home, he counted the minutes until he got home. He was so generous to his family. He would often slip what he called “ice-cream” money in his son’s pockets when they left his house. He loved his wife more than anyone else on this earth, and it showed. Justian and Joan were so deeply in love. He was an amazing dad to his three boys, 2 daughter-in-loves, and 6 grandchildren. He had a lot of love to give.
Justian is preceded in death by his loving parents Justian Adeal Kelly Sr. and Helen Mae Floyd. He is survived by his wife, Joan, of 55 years, their son Michael Arnold Kelly of Long Valley, NJ, their son Charles Patrick Kelly and his wife April and children Asher, Corban, and Haven of Weatherford, Tx, and their son Justian Adeal Kelly III and his wife Jennifer and children Mikayla, Colin, and Dylan of Long Valley, NJ. He is also survived by his brother Michael Burge Kelly of Portland, Oregon.