James Michael Kelly "Jim" of Aston, PA, passed away peacefully at the age of 86 on September 20, 2023. Jim was born April 15, 1937 in Philadelphia, PA and was a graduate of Northeast Catholic High School. Jim started his 40+ year career in law enforcement at the age of 18 while serving in the U.S. Army, as an MP, followed by an assignment with the Army's Criminal Investigation Division. After an honorable discharge from the Army, he decided to follow in his father's footsteps and became a police officer first in Wildwood, NJ and then as a detective in Philadelphia, PA. Jim worked in a number of other law enforcement related roles over the years; with the U.S. Marshals, he safeguarded visiting dignitaries, worked undercover to arrest an international weapons dealer and investigated casino fraud and arson cases; as a U.S. Treasury agent, he was assigned to Washington D.C. and helped investigate the bombing of the U.S. Capitol building in 1971; and he served warrants for the Philadelphia Family Court. Jim was a loquacious story-teller who was always spending time to get to know people he came across every day. He was a self-proclaimed logophile and sesquipedalian (which means he loved to find underused and multi-syllable words to educate his family and friends about). Jim is preceded in death by his son, James Michael Kelly, Jr.; parents, Eugene Kelly and Isabella Kelly (Knapp), his brothers Eugene Kelly Jr., Joseph Kelly and Jack Kelly. Jim is survived by his son, Brian Haughton and his wife Jennifer Haughton; daughter-in-law, Cori Kelly; two granddaughters, Sarah Haughton and Samantha Kelly; and close friends, Sherry Martin and husband, Randy Martin and their son, Matthew Martin. Visitation: Friday, October 6, 2023, from 9:45am-10:45am, at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 3255 Concord Rd, Aston, PA 19014. Mass of Christian Burial: Friday, October 6 at 11am Interment: following Mass at Holy Cross Cemetery, Yeadon, PA. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made in Jim's name to St. Joseph Catholic Church, 3255 Concord Rd. Aston, PA 19014