Daryl Duane Sheley

Daryl was raised in Bethel Temple, now Capital Christian Center in Sacramento, where he was very involved in the youth group and toured with the youth choir. It was while on tour with the Bethel Teen Tones that he flirted his way into the heart of Carolyn Hankin. They were married on January 22, 1972. They celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary just weeks before her passing in 2012.

Daryl and Carolyn started in the ministry, just ten days after being married, by moving to Arkansas to be house parents to a group of teenage girls. Through the years, they served on staff at several Assemblies of God churches; Corning (CA), Springfield (OR), Madera (CA), and Carmichael (CA). In 1988, Daryl decided that one of his heart's desire was to finish his college education. The Sheley family uprooted from Sacramento and moved to Scotts Valley, CA where Daryl attended Bethany College, and Carolyn began working at the District Office of the Assemblies of God. Daryl was able to pick up part-time work there while finishing school. After graduation, Daryl joined the full-time staff, and several years later they became the Pastors at Santa Cruz Assembly of God. Daryl worked for the District for 27 years before leaving on medical retirement in 2016.

Daryl will be remembered for his generosity, genuine and unconditional love of others, devotion to family, quirky sense of humor, love of story-telling, being one crazy papa to his grandchildren, being a faithful servant, and his example of steadfast devotion to his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

After complications following a heart procedure and thirteen days in the hospital., at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, October 9th, Jesus called him by name. Daryl is survived by his daughter Leanna Sheley, son Wes Sheley (Carrie), grandchildren Nicolas and Jaelyn Sheley, brother Jon Sheley (Lynn), sister Denise Hadley (Gary), father Clifford Sheley (Earlene), step-father Chet Russel, aunts, uncle, and many nieces, nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by his wife of 40 years Carolyn Sheley, mother Arlene Russel, and brother-in-law Scott Bodry.

Daryl was a tremendous caregiver to his wife throughout their marriage and following her death to many others in his church family. He never met a stranger, and his heart's desire was to make at least one person smile each day. The last few weeks before his heart procedure he began listening to the song, “My Life Is In His Hands,” by the Brooklynn Tabernacle Choir. This song became his anthem and where he found peace knowing that his life was truly in the hands of his Heavenly Father.