She was born on April 23, 1967, to Thomas Bud and Connie Marie (Evers) Gilkison in Salem, Oregon. Shelley grew up in the Keizer area, attending Cummings, Whitaker and graduating from McNary High School in 1985. In high school she played fast pitch softball, helping take the team to the district championship.
After High school, she worked for St. Vincent De Paul, and while pregnant with her first child, she started a childcare business with her mother, Kids At Heart, A family business for over 14 years, that touched a lot of children’s lives in the area. Shelley met Scott Hicks when she was a junior in high school and they reconnected in 1997, later to be married on July 7, 2007. Together, Shelley and Scott opened Piper’s Dispensary, where all of their customers were friends.
She loved helping people, nature, the beach, Oregon (although she did not enjoy the rain) and old cars. She was artistic, talented and creative. She had a strong passion and love for animals, especialy her dogs. She loved to joke around and was supportive of her family, always being the big sister and friend; she was the “cool mom” and was very involved in her children’s lives.
Shelley is survived by her husband, Scott Hicks; children, Trevin Daniel Barnet, Melanie Kristine Yelliott (Justin), Austin Mitchell Hicks; step-son, Alex Donahue; parents, Tom and Connie Gilkison; grandchild, Avery Justin Yelliott; sisters, Kristine “Krissy” Hardy (Craig), Kathryn “Katie” Lawrence (Kelsey); her nieces and nephews, Melissa, Jessica, Deegan, Brodie and Madeline; one great niece, Audrey, and one on the way. She also leaves behind numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, friends and dogs.
A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, May 26th at 12 pm at Howell, Edwards, Doerksen with Rigdon-Ransom Funeral Directors. To celebrate Shelley, please wear bright clothing to honor her spirit.
In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made in her name to Second Chance Salem Animal Rescue. www.Secondchancesalem.org
