Shirley V. Louangamath was born April 22, 1974 in Vientiene, Laos. She and her family fled the Communists across the Mekong while under fire. After some years in a refugee camp, the Salvation Army sponsored Shirley and her family to come to Santa Rosa under Majors Roger and Svea Malmberg. When the Malmbergs took a church in Seattle, WA, the family also moved with her dad to Seattle, where they met the Seattle Temple families. Together the kids had many adventures, all involving Shirley’s typically crazy escapades. These antics included backyard sleepovers with 6 siblings; swimming and boating in Lake Washington and Green Lake; and raising bunnies. There might have been a chicken, possibly some fish. Shirley, Angie, Jen, and other friends took crazy car trips, with summers at camp with camp skits, and so many plane trips that the United gate agents knew Shirley by name. Of course, that might have been because she was often late to board. Shirley eventually moved to Washington, DC, and finished Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees, while building a career in business development and IT. An enthusiastic Seahawks fan, Shirley decorated her homes and herself with Seahawks gear. She played soccer and loved to snowboard. Shirley also determined to give back to her community, so she coached youth soccer and mentored young women. Shirley never lost her love of adventure, so she married the love of her life, Jim Matney, on July 20, 2018, and was always his biggest fan. She also began growing Jai, her business, which became her full-time focus on April 22, 2019. She died January 20th in Breckenridge, CO, while snowboarding, an activity that she loved. Her charisma and magic touched everyone who met her. She is survived by her husband Jim, her parents, her siblings, her children, her nieces and nephews, and many, many friends.
Shirley V. Louangamath most beloved wife, mother, daughter, sister, and auntie went to be with the Lord January 20, 2020. A memorial service will be held in the Evergreen-Washelli Funeral Home Chapel on February 8, 2020 at 10:30 a.m. If you plan to attend, please wear your favorite Seahawks gear or jersey. If you are not a Hawks fan, please wear navy blue, silver grey, or green. In lieu of flowers, please donate to The Salvation Army youth programs at Shirley’s fundraiser.
We also ask that if you would like to remember Shirley, please change your Facebook profile picture to your favorite picture of you and Shirley together.
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