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In 1924, Mckelvey married Elizabeth Caldwell Murphy then later settled down in Co.Down, Ireland together. They had two children. Their eldest son, Frank (1925)  followed his father and too became an artist. He signed his artwork “Frank Murphy” to differentiate his work from his fathers In 1926 Mckelvey represented 6 pieces of art in The Belfast Museum and Art Gallery. He was represented by landscapes in the exhibition of Irish art at Brussels in 1930 as well as representing ireland in the Hackett Galleries in New york, USA

In the 1950’s Mckelvey painted multiple portraits including, “Captain Sir Kenneth Sinclair” which can be seen in Belfast Harbour Commissioner's and “Cecil Armstrong Calvert” as seen in Royal Victoria Hospital Belfast.

In 1962, Mckelvey was commissioned to create a portrait of The Lord Mayor of Belfast “Sir Martin Wallace”  then placed in Belfast City Hall. In 1963, he was commissioned to paint a portrait of “The Queen’s Bridge”. In 1969, Mckelvey painted “The Park”  which he then presented to the Royal Ulster Academy of Arts.

At 71 years of age, Mckelvey decided to leave his studio in Howard street, located in Belfast the place which he had worked since the 1930’s. He then built his own studio in his Co. Down home of Hollywood. His last noted commission painting was done in 1971, a portrait of businessman R. W. Berkeley, C.B.E, J.P,

In 1972, after vacationing in Mallorca, Mckelvey fell ill and was then diagnosed with cancer. His death was recorded on June 30, 1974 in Belfast Hospital. Only three weeks after his eightieth birthday. His funeral was held in Hollywood Parish Church on July 2, where he was later cremated and laid to rest in Roselawn Cemetery close to Belfast.