* John L. Kelley Jr.; Longtime County Rancher

John Louis Kelley Jr., a rancher and a descendant of a Ventura County pioneer family, died Tuesday at his home in Calaveras County. He was 72.

Kelley was born Sept. 12, 1928, in Oxnard to John Louis and Olive Elizabeth Kelley and grew up in the Thousand Oaks area, attending Conejo Elementary School and Moorpark High School.

He was a top amateur boxer in Ventura County and an avid horseman. Kelley won the All-Around Cowboy award in 1948 at the Ventura County Fair rodeo.

For several years, he managed the Conejo Ranch for Janss Investment Co.

After being injured in the early 1950s, he remained active with his family in rodeo, horse racing and ranching. He enjoyed working with his family on the Wood Ranch in Simi Valley before moving to Valley Springs in 1983.

Kelley was preceded in death by a son, William.

He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Alta; two sons, John of Valley Springs and Ralph of Simi Valley; his mother, Olive Kelley of Somis; a sister, Catherine Moragne of Texas; a brother, Michael, of Somis; eight grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.

A rosary will be said at 1 p.m. Wednesday at St. Mary Magdalen Chapel in Camarillo.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Hospice of Amador, 1500 S. Highway 49, Suite 405, Jackson, CA 95624.

Arrangements are under the direction of San Andreas Memorial Chapel in San Andreas.

Ventura County obituaries are compiled by Linda Herron. They are published free of charge as a public service to readers, based on information provided by mortuaries.