James “Jim” Marshall Kerley, 94, of Punta Gorda, Florida, passed away peacefully, surrounded by his family, on Tuesday, May 21, 2019 in Punta Gorda.

Jim was born October 26, 1924, to Marshall and Emma Kerley in Union City, Tennessee. Hearing the call to serve his country as it entered into World War II, Jim enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps in November of 1941 and was stationed in San Diego, California. He served with honor and was Honorably discharged in March of 1942. While a hospital patient at Hackley Hospital in Muskegon, Michigan, he met the love of his life, Shirley A. Peterson, who was in Hackley Hospital’s Nursing Training Program. The two fell in love, and Shirley would become his wife, on February 27, 1945. Jim and Shirley soon moved to Washington D.C. to be closer to Shirley’s parents. Jim worked for over 30 years at the First Union Trust Bank on M street, and together, Shirley and he raised three children in Rockville, Maryland, just outside of D.C., where they resided from 1953 until moving to Punta Gorda as full time residents in 1991. He was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Punta Gorda.

He is survived by his children, daughter Carole L. (Spouse Robert) Tull of Fort Myers, FL, and son Bradley A. Kerley of Punta Gorda; grandchildren, Melvin “Mel” (Spouse Tara) Faulconer, Darlene (Spouse Ken Peters) Faulconer, Jason Kerley, and Sharon Ann Kerley; great grandchildren, Josh, Ian and Riley Faulconer, and Aiden Kerley; his sister, Betty Curran of Lincoln, Nebraska, and several nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents, Jim was preceded in death by a daughter, Sharon Kerley in 1959, and his beloved wife of over 69 years, Shirley, on December 19, 2014.

A Catholic funeral prayer service will be held 11 a.m. on Tuesday, May 28, 2019, at Roberson Funeral Homes Punta Gorda Chapel, at 215 Mary Street in Punta Gorda. Fr. Jerry Kaywell, Pastor of Sacred Heart, will officiate. Jim will be laid to rest with full military honors, band and caisson by a U.S. Marine Corp. Honor Guard on Monday 12:45 PM, Oct. 7, 2019 at Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, VA.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in Jim’s name are suggested to the Wounded Warriors Project, P.O. Box 758517, Topeka, KS 66675-8517.

Friends may visit online at www.robersonfh.com to extend condolences to the family. Arrangements are by Roberson Funeral Homes & Crematory, Punta Gorda Chapel.