Vernon L Kelley

Age: 69

Date of Death: October 26, 2024

Wanaque, NJ

VERNON L KELLEY January 17, 1955 - October 26,2024 Born in Sacramento California, to Helen Anita (Croxen) and Robert Kelley. Vern graduated Encino High School in 1973. He loved picking his guitar with his buddies and just driving across the country, camping and roughing it. He worked road construction in California, then eventually found his way to New Jersey, where he drove tractor trailers for several companies; the last being JED Trucking, delivering for Wakefern, His last year or so was as warehouse manager; as he battled cancer. He was a true warrior in that battle; threw everything possible at it; but in the end the cancer won, sadly. It took away one of the sweetest, most honest and caring man you could meet. He enjoyed the simple things in life; his girls, his grandkids, true friends and just watching and hearing the waves crash in. Visiting wineries, breweries and going out to a laid back dinner. He also enjoyed cooking and spending time with his dogs and then the cats he inherited when he met his wife, Cheryl. Together they adopted several pets. They made their own wine a few times and designed the bottle labels. He will be missed so much by all the lives he touched. Vernon leaves behind his wife, Cheryl (nee) Longmuir, His daughters, Joanna, Heather and her husband Zack Novak, Kaitlin and her husband Shaun Dahl, Heather and her husband Greg Visser, his grandchildren, Shaelyn, Alexander, Connor and Adella, his sister, Marcia and her husband Rod Zivanovic; as well as sisters and brothers in law, nieces, great nieces and nephews, cousins, his best buddies in California, his work buddies and NJ buddies, his current pup, Gemini and cat, Chloe. Vern did not want a service of any kind; he wanted to see those he loved while he was here; and he saw most of them in the few weeks before he passed. He felt he would rather live in the memories of happy times, laughter, dinners, and whatever loving memory we all have of him in our hearts instead. Goodbye to one of the best.