She was born in Portland on October 20, 1931 to Cy and Myrtle Gengelbach. She graduated from Lewis and Clark College and the University of Washington with a degree in education. She married Brian Teller of Portland and they had three children, Karen Elaine, Patricia Anne and Brian Keith Jr.
Shirley taught elementary school in Stuttgart, Germany while Brian was stationed there. They moved to Olympia, Washington in 1960 where they raised the family and Shirley taught school until her retirement in 1993. She enjoyed helping the kids in and out of the classroom and kept in touch with many of the friends she made while teaching. She then moved back to Portland where she enjoyed her retirement years. She loved to spend time at her Cannon Beach home with family and friends, especially her grandchildren and great grandchildren who all called her Muggie. She enjoyed gardening and excelled at making pies and jam with the berries from her garden. She also loved travel, live theater, music, good food and her beloved dachshunds. She had a lifetime love of sports, particularly basketball and football. She made sure we all knew when the games were coming up, even when she was in the hospital.
She is survived by her children Patricia Anne Moore of Olympia and Brian Keith Teller of Portland, her grandchildren, Karen Elaine (Robb) Hollenbeck of Missoula Montana, David Alan Moore of Lynnwood, Washington and Christian Jacob Teller of Portland as well as her great-grandchildren Evelyn Mae and Cy Hollenbeck and her cousin Doug Souvinier. She remained friends with our father Brian and her sister-in-law Nancy and enjoyed attending the Lakewood Theater and Monday Musical events with Nancy and her family. She was predeceased by her daughter Karen.
Shirley cared deeply about people and animals and gave to organizations she believed in, including Children’s Hospital in Seattle and Dornbecker Children’s Hospital in Portland.
She was the heart and soul of the family and loved nothing more than getting everyone together around the dinner table. Her kindness and generosity will be remembered by all who knew her.
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.8.18