Shirley Jo Kelley

She was born on July 8, 1929 and was the first of three girls; her sisters are Pat and Peg who preceded her in death. Her mother passed away and her father remarried a lady name Heloise. Shirley then had a stepsister Joanne whom she has kept in touch with in spite of their living in different states.

Growing up Shirley was a member of the first girls’ basketball team at her high school and they had an undefeated year. She enjoyed watching the Suns and the Mercury even towards the end of her life.

Shirley was working for a flooring company in Malden, MO which relocated to Phoenix. She moved to Phoenix with the owners who were good friends. She then became an administrative secretary at First Federal Savings in Phoenix. She took several secretarial classes (and I came across some report cards – straight A’s, of course!) and even attended Dale Carnegie courses.

She has had several bouts with cancer, the first in 1962, causing her to retire early. Despite being diagnosed with COPD and diabetes and having cancer recur in 1992; Shirley remained independent and strong willed. Her faith helped her through her many ordeals.

Shirley was not always a Catholic, like many of us. She was a Methodist and even played the organ for her church in Arkansas. She owned an organ and I believe she donated it to the Sisters here at Most Holy Trinity several years ago.

She started to attend Most Holy Trinity in 1966 with her friend Lenore Banko. In 1988, she was baptized and confirmed into the Catholic Church. Shirley played the organ at times for Most Holy Trinity and joined the choir with Father Joseph as Director. There were 50 members then and the choir loft was full! The Dominicans were at Most Holy Trinity: Father McHugh and Father Daniels. The choir members remember her gentle reminders to return music invoking Saint Anthony. The choir has always been like a family unit and Shirley has been a very important part of this family. Shirley became the librarian – what a librarian! She spent hours in the shelves upstairs organizing the boxes and keeping the octavos numbered and accounted for.

Shirley had many hobbies and interests. Her trip to Europe was a highlight. She liked to fish with her friends Liz and Maggie. When asked if she actually cleaned the fish and ate them she would respond: “What fish?!” They just enjoyed being outside.

In 2009, Shirley flew to St. Louis so she could visit her stepsister and her family as well as her stepmother who was not doing very well. Unfortunately, Shirley had a severe nosebleed, was kept in the hospital several days and had to return by herself on the plane. She loved her stay there and kept an album of everywhere they visited in St. Louis near her chair in her home.

Shirley loved animals. She always had a cat, spoke often about her dog named Peaches, and at the same time she had a cat named Kareem. Thus she had Peaches and Cream! Shirley also had a sense of humor. Any pet that was in Shirley’s house was indeed very blessed . . . and spoiled!

Shirley loved the computer. She caught on to surfing the web for information and using e-mail to keep in touch with her family and friends in Arkansas and Missouri. This was wonderful as it became harder for her to get out and about on her own. Not having access to her computer was very difficult for her most recently when she was in skilled nursing.

Shirley also had an appreciation for plants and flowers. She had quite a garden on her small patio area. She loved to cook and bake. She enjoyed having her friends over to try new dishes at her townhouse. The choir members particularly remember the dozens of fruitcakes she made every Christmas! Even those who scoffed at fruitcakes loved the ones she made.

Everything in Shirley’s townhouse had a meaning for her. She could remember who gave it to her or when she purchased it and why. Everything in her townhouse was special to her because of people she knew. She did not have a lot compared to many people, but she took care of what she had and appreciated it. Shirley was faithful in her contributions to the church as well as donating to various animal charities.

Shirley was a very considerate friend. Whenever she was out and about and saw something she thought someone would like or maybe if she had heard someone mention that they were looking for something, she would pick it up for them. She was never loud and showy. Her attention to detail showed in the way she dressed and the way she spoke.

Shirley will be remembered for her attention to detail and for what is right – usually things were black or white to Shirley, for her independence and strength as well as her quiet concern for all of God’s creatures.

Visitation will be held Wednesday, March 5, 2014 from 5pm to 8pm at A. L. Moore Grimshaw Mortuary 710 W. Bethany Home Rd, Phoenix, AZ. Funeral Mass will be celebrated Thursday, March 6, 2014 at 10am at Most Holy Trinity Catholic Church, 8620 N. 7th St, Phoenix, AZ. Interment will be at 1:30pm at Holy Cross Cemetery 10045 W. Thomas Rd, Avondale, AZ. Donations may be made to HALO Animal rescue, 2500 S. 27th Ave, Phoenix, AZ.