Deliliah Ruth Shell was born on September 9, 1950 in Muskogee, OK to Alonzo William Shell and Violet Christine (Mullen) Shell. She spent her early years living with her parents and later her younger brother Steve in Porum, OK. In 1955, the family moved to Tulsa, OK. Deliliah graduated from Edison High School in Tulsa in 1968. In March of that year, she met the love of her life, Dennis Maley, when her car was stuck in the snow and he was sent to help her. Deliliah attended Northeastern State College in Tahlequah, OK for a semester, then left to marry Dennis on January 25, 1969. They were married for 53 years. Deliliah worked at Blue Cross Blue Shield while Dennis worked and finished school at the University of Tulsa. After he graduated, the moved to Oklahoma City for his accounting job. Deliliah became “Dee” to her friends when they moved. She worked and then took college classes before deciding to become a mother. She and Dennis had Addie in 1974 and Zack in 1978. Dee loved being a mother and was always her children’s biggest cheerleader. Dee also loved her church, Trinity Baptist, where she taught kindergarten Sunday school, led the Women’s Ministry Union, and assisted Laotian refugees get settled in the Oklahoma City area. She was busy with her children’s activities and was always willing to step up, whether it was chaperoning endless school field trips or leading Camp Fire and Cub Scouts.
When her children were older, Dee went back to school to earn a degree in Elementary Education from Central State University in December, 1988. She began teaching at Eugene Field Elementary School in January, 1989, first teaching second grade. Later she obtained her master’s degree in Reading Education and was a reading coach. Her passion was helping young students learn how to read. She retired from OKC Public Schools in 2015. In the 2000s she transitioned to being a grandmother named “Boo” to her three grandchildren. She made “Boo’s House” a magical place with endless trips to the Omniplex science museum and the pool. When COVID hit, she joined the online women’s Bible study at the Village United Methodist Church and loved getting to know new friends and going deeper in God’s Word.
Deliliah is preceded in death by her parents, Alonzo and Violet Shell, and her brother, Steve Shell. She is survived by her husband, Dennis Maley; her children and their spouses, Addie and Scott Johnston, and Zack and Monica Maley; and her grandchildren, Jacob, Emma Claire and Sara Kate Johnston. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Village United Methodist Church to benefit their women’s ministry fund.
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