MONTPELIER: Jerome (Jerry) Kelley died peacefully in his sleep at 4 A.M. on November 19th, 2010. Jerry was born on April 20th, 1924, at Heaton Hospital in Montpelier. He was the son of Ruth and Levi Kelley. He graduated from Montpelier High School in 1941 at the age of 17. He attempted to join the Marines the day after Pearl Harbor but was turned down because he was underage and didn't have his parent's permission. Determined to enlist he jumped a train headed to Montreal and joined the Canadian Army. The Canadian Army assigned him to the Black Watch (the Royal Highland Regiment) and shipped him almost immediately to England, making him one of the first Americans in the European theater. He was stationed in England throughout most of the war, except for a brief period when he was at Officer's Training School in Ontario. After the invasion of Europe in 1945 Jerry returned home to Vermont where he attended the University of Vermont and married Nancy Fitzgerald from Brattleboro. They had four children: David, Michael, Susan and Ian. For many years Jerry worked in New York City as an advertising executive and commuted back and forth to Vermont every weekend. He loved fishing, hunting and skiing and was a prolific writer. He was published in Outdoor Life, Field and Stream, Reader's Digest, True and numerous other magazines. Eventually he returned to Vermont full time becoming Deputy Commissioner of Agriculture under both Governor Richard Snelling and Governor Howard Dean. Jerry is survived by his four children, his younger brother Lee and his ex-wife Nancy. A Memorial Service will be held at a later date. Barber & Lanier Funeral and Cremation Service is in charge of arrangements. For those wishing to convey online condolences to the family, please visit www.barber-lanier.com.