Katie Shella

Katie died following a lengthy illness on April 25, 2025.

She was born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa to Jim and Connie Shella on March 20, 1978. She moved with the family to Grand Rapids, Michigan before settling in Indianapolis in 1982. Katie graduated from North Central High School in 1996.

She attended Indiana University where she joined the Alpha Xi Delta sorority and played the clarinet in the Marching Hundred before graduating in 2000. She earned a master's degree in art therapy from the University of Illinois-Chicago in 2002.

She moved back to Indianapolis after 5 years in Chicago and was working for the Department of Child Services when a series of chronic conditions forced her to go on disability.

She and life partner David Adair enjoyed mid century decorating, vacationing in the mountains, and pets. Cats Roadie, Rocket, and Norbit and Thor the Shih Tzu were a big part of her life.

Katie was preceded in death by her brother Andy and her mother Connie. She is survived by her partner David Adair, her father, Jim Shella, stepmother Pat Rios, stepsister Pamela Harville and stepbrother John Harville.

Visitation for Katie will be held Saturday, May 3, 2025 from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM at Leppert Mortuary – Nora, 740 East 86th St, Indianapolis, Indiana 46240, followed by a memorial service at 2:00 PM.

In lieu of flowers the family asks that donations be made to the diabetes charity BreakthroughT1D at BreakthroughT1D.org/indianakentucky.