Shirley Adeline Kelley

December 27,1940 – February 1,2025

Shirley Adeline Kelley passed away peacefully in her sleep with the support of her family after a long battle with brain cancer on February 1, 2025.

Shirley was born on December 27, 1940, in Stanley, WI to Walter and Sophie Lew. She grew up on the family dairy farm in Withee, WI and graduated from Owen-Withee High School. She worked as a bank teller before meeting her husband, Michael Kelley, at a family wedding while he was stationed with the Army in Chicago. They were married on December 18, 1965, at the Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Owen, WI. Shortly after she packed up her Corvair and caravaned with her husband to the Pacific Northwest. First, residing in Issaquah, WA before building their life-long home in North Bend, WA.

She continued a career as a bank teller in Seattle until starting her family of five children when she transitioned to a stay-at-home mom. As her youngest started school, she began working as a para-professional for Snoqualmie Valley School District and continued with Issaquah School District into her retirement. Working with kids brought her much happiness and she never wanted to stop working.

She was a dedicated walker often getting a daily walk in before the sun came up and frequently going to Curves after work. Shopping was another passion of hers and she always loved a good sale, so she was thrilled when the local outlet mall opened. She thoroughly enjoyed buying her five grandchildren lots of new outfits as presents at birthdays and Christmas. Her faith was also important to her as she attended Our Lady of Sorrows for over 50 years.

‘Attitude is Everything’ was a favorite saying of Shirley’s and she definitely took it to heart when she was diagnosed with glioblastoma brain cancer in 2007. She was determined not to act sick and opted for any and every available treatment. She beat the odds, surviving over 17 years, before the cancer returned in December 2024.

She is survived by her husband Michael, children Julie (Richard) Langley, Heidi (Craig) Fischer, Brent Kelley, Tina Kelley and Karen (Erik) Wirth and grandchildren, Sandra Fischer, Trent and Brayden Johnson and Alexa and Devin Wirth along with her brother Walter G. (Linda) Lew. She is preceded in death by her parents, Walter and Sophie Lew and sister Connie.

Funeral services were at Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church in Snoqualmie, WA on March 10, 2025 at 11:00am with a reception following. Tribute wall available on www.flintofts.com.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to UW Medicine | Department of Neurological Surgery | Brain Tumor Research or Our Lady of Sorrows Church.