Final Salute

James F. McElroy, 94, of Forked River passed away on December 3, 2022, peacefully at home with his family. James was born in Brooklyn, New York on January 7th, 1928. He was a WWII U.S. Navy Seabee Veteran and a U.S. Marine Corps Veteran of the Korean War. After his military service, he worked for the New York City Department of Corrections in The Bronx until his retirement. While he was a corrections officer, he also worked at The New York Yankee organization as a baseball scout in Brooklyn which he enjoyed being a part of. In 1954, he married his beautiful wife Nancy Murtagh and they proceeded to have three children Maureen, Ellen, and John. In 1971, the family relocated to Pompton Lakes, New Jersey and he was active in their Little League and the Auxiliary Police Department. After some years, they moved to Lacey Township where he became a member of Saint Pius X Catholic Church and became an active member of the Marine Corps League Lacey Detachment. He also was a part of the Lacey Vetworks. Jim was a very outgoing person and was always the life of the party. He knew how to laugh and to make others laugh as well. Jim had many wonderful friends he met along the way that made a huge difference in who he was.
And a huge thank you to the amazing Nurses and Aids from the Hackensack Meridian Health Hospice South, Rite at Home of Ocean County, and The Veterans Administration who spent the last few months with Jim giving him the best care and our family support.
Predeceased by his wife Nancy and son John McElroy. James is survived by his daughters Maureen Schneider and her husband Timothy of Forked River NJ, Ellen Pannasch and her husband David of Pennsylvania, and grandchildren Courtney, Desray, and Erik Schneider. Not forgetting his favorite grand doggy, Lilly.
A Viewing will be held on Thursday, December 8, 2022 from 3pm to 6pm and on Friday from 10am until time of service at 11am at Riggs Funeral Home, 130 North Route 9, Forked River, NJ 08731 Interment will follow at Brigadier General William C Doyle Veterans Memorial Cemetery, 350 Provence Line Road, Wrightstown, NJ. In Lieu of flowers, please donate a toy to the Marine Corps Toys for Tots in Jim’s Memory.
To plant a beautiful memorial tree in memory of James, please visit our Tree Store.

Published by Riggs Funeral Home LLC – Forked River on Dec. 6, 2022.