James “Jim” Grenville Kegley, 87, of Portsmouth, passed away on July 30, 2026, at Resthaven Rehab and Skilled Care in McDermott.
Jim was born on April 1, 1939, in Portsmouth, the son of the late Forest Earl and Mary Eleanor Clark Kegley.
Jim was a 1957 Portsmouth High School graduate, and he served in the Army National Guard. A journalist, he was a founder and the editor/publisher of The Scioto Voice, Scioto County’s locally owned print and digital news source. The first issue was printed in 1973 from Wheelersburg. Jim was an active tennis player, boater, and fisherman well known for his sense of humor and pranks.
Surviving are his two sons, Kurtis James Kegley of Tucson, AZ, and Forest Cranmer (Jenny) Kegley of Circleville; one granddaughter, Hannah Rayne Kegley; and three siblings, Paul Kegley of McDermott, Sandy Kegley of Galena, and Sharon Lundy of Westerville.
In addition to his parents, Jim was preceded in death by siblings, Forest “Bud” Kegley, Jr., George Kegley, Samuel Kegley, Ted Dunham, Mary Lou Brown, and Joann White.
Arrangements are under the direction of the Ralph F. Scott Funeral Home in Portsmouth. There is no public memorial planned at this time.
Contributions in Jim’s memory may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association at www.alz.org.
