On Friday evening February 12, 2021, James Edwin Shelley (Jim), loving husband and father, passed away peacefully in his home surrounded by his family at age 70. He was loved by his children, many grandchildren, and great grandchildren.
James was born on August 13, 1950 in Farmington, New Mexico, to Earl and Betty Lou (Jones) Shelley. He spent his early childhood years in Wagner, AZ, until his family moved to Chandler Heights, AZ, where he graduated high school in 1968. He spent his summers working at his family’s dude ranch in Airpine, AZ.
In the summer of 1969, Jim met his beautiful future wife, Lynette Petersen, who was working for his parents at the family’s ranch. They dated and got engaged while he was attending Mesa Community College. They were married on October 16, 1971, in Heber, AZ. Shortly thereafter, he was hired by the Mesa City Police Department where he advanced to the rank of detective. After seven years of working for MCPD, he returned to the family ranch.
In 1986 he left the ranch and moved to Kanab, UT, where he took a job as a truck driver for Petersen Logging. When the logging industry shut down he went to work for Page Steel also driving truck. While in Kanab, they raised their seven children.
James was a genuine story teller who could embellish the story unlike any other. His children and grandchildren loved hearing his stories and never tired of hearing them over, and over, and over again.
James loved ranching and horses. He always felt at home riding his horse and working with cattle out on the range. He loved to rope with his dad, brother Dennis, and Uncle Ralph. He was a natural and well accomplished in calf roping and team roping. James once told his wife, “I don’t know if I want to go to Heaven if there aren’t horses”.
James was preceded in death by his parents Earl and Betty Lou, his older brother Gary, and his granddaughter Andee M’lee.
He will be missed by his wife Lynette, his children Amy (Rick) Willis,Kanab, UT; Chad (Jamie) Shelley, Rocksprings, WY; Matt Shelley, Kanab, UT; Choc (Brie) Shelley, Saratoga Springs, UT; Kortni Shelley, Kanab, UT; Jenny (J.D.) Stevens, Holden, UT; and Jori (Danny) Schofield, Cedar City, UT; 25 grandchildren, and two great grandchildren. James will also be missed by his brother Dennis (Kathie) Shelley, Roosevelt, AZ, and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.
James was born on August 13, 1950 in Farmington, New Mexico, to Earl and Betty Lou (Jones) Shelley. He spent his early childhood years in Wagner, AZ, until his family moved to Chandler Heights, AZ, where he graduated high school in 1968. He spent his summers working at his family’s dude ranch in Airpine, AZ.
In the summer of 1969, Jim met his beautiful future wife, Lynette Petersen, who was working for his parents at the family’s ranch. They dated and got engaged while he was attending Mesa Community College. They were married on October 16, 1971, in Heber, AZ. Shortly thereafter, he was hired by the Mesa City Police Department where he advanced to the rank of detective. After seven years of working for MCPD, he returned to the family ranch.
In 1986 he left the ranch and moved to Kanab, UT, where he took a job as a truck driver for Petersen Logging. When the logging industry shut down he went to work for Page Steel also driving truck. While in Kanab, they raised their seven children.
James was a genuine story teller who could embellish the story unlike any other. His children and grandchildren loved hearing his stories and never tired of hearing them over, and over, and over again.
James loved ranching and horses. He always felt at home riding his horse and working with cattle out on the range. He loved to rope with his dad, brother Dennis, and Uncle Ralph. He was a natural and well accomplished in calf roping and team roping. James once told his wife, “I don’t know if I want to go to Heaven if there aren’t horses”.
James was preceded in death by his parents Earl and Betty Lou, his older brother Gary, and his granddaughter Andee M’lee.
He will be missed by his wife Lynette, his children Amy (Rick) Willis,Kanab, UT; Chad (Jamie) Shelley, Rocksprings, WY; Matt Shelley, Kanab, UT; Choc (Brie) Shelley, Saratoga Springs, UT; Kortni Shelley, Kanab, UT; Jenny (J.D.) Stevens, Holden, UT; and Jori (Danny) Schofield, Cedar City, UT; 25 grandchildren, and two great grandchildren. James will also be missed by his brother Dennis (Kathie) Shelley, Roosevelt, AZ, and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.
On Friday evening February 12, 2021, James Edwin Shelley (Jim), loving husband and father, passed away peacefully in his home surrounded by his family at age 70. He was loved by his children, many grandchildren, and great grandchildren.
James was born on August 13, 1950 in Farmington, New Mexico, to Earl and Betty Lou (Jones) Shelley. He spent his early childhood years in Wagner, AZ, until his family moved to Chandler Heights, AZ, where he graduated high school in 1968. He spent his summers working at his family’s dude ranch in Airpine, AZ.
In the summer of 1969, Jim met his beautiful future wife, Lynette Petersen, who was working for his parents at the family’s ranch. They dated and got engaged while he was attending Mesa Community College. They were married on October 16, 1971, in Heber, AZ. Shortly thereafter, he was hired by the Mesa City Police Department where he advanced to the rank of detective. After seven years of working for MCPD, he returned to the family ranch.
In 1986 he left the ranch and moved to Kanab, UT, where he took a job as a truck driver for Petersen Logging. When the logging industry shut down he went to work for Page Steel also driving truck. While in Kanab, they raised their seven children.
James was a genuine story teller who could embellish the story unlike any other. His children and grandchildren loved hearing his stories and never tired of hearing them over, and over, and over again.
James loved ranching and horses. He always felt at home riding his horse and working with cattle out on the range. He loved to rope with his dad, brother Dennis, and Uncle Ralph. He was a natural and well accomplished in calf roping and team roping. James once told his wife, “I don’t know if I want to go to Heaven if there aren’t horses”.
James was preceded in death by his parents Earl and Betty Lou, his older brother Gary, and his granddaughter Andee M’lee.
He will be missed by his wife Lynette, his children Amy (Rick) Willis,Kanab, UT; Chad (Jamie) Shelley, Rocksprings, WY; Matt Shelley, Kanab, UT; Choc (Brie) Shelley, Saratoga Springs, UT; Kortni Shelley, Kanab, UT; Jenny (J.D.) Stevens, Holden, UT; and Jori (Danny) Schofield, Cedar City, UT; 25 grandchildren, and two great grandchildren. James will also be missed by his brother Dennis (Kathie) Shelley, Roosevelt, AZ, and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.
James was born on August 13, 1950 in Farmington, New Mexico, to Earl and Betty Lou (Jones) Shelley. He spent his early childhood years in Wagner, AZ, until his family moved to Chandler Heights, AZ, where he graduated high school in 1968. He spent his summers working at his family’s dude ranch in Airpine, AZ.
In the summer of 1969, Jim met his beautiful future wife, Lynette Petersen, who was working for his parents at the family’s ranch. They dated and got engaged while he was attending Mesa Community College. They were married on October 16, 1971, in Heber, AZ. Shortly thereafter, he was hired by the Mesa City Police Department where he advanced to the rank of detective. After seven years of working for MCPD, he returned to the family ranch.
In 1986 he left the ranch and moved to Kanab, UT, where he took a job as a truck driver for Petersen Logging. When the logging industry shut down he went to work for Page Steel also driving truck. While in Kanab, they raised their seven children.
James was a genuine story teller who could embellish the story unlike any other. His children and grandchildren loved hearing his stories and never tired of hearing them over, and over, and over again.
James loved ranching and horses. He always felt at home riding his horse and working with cattle out on the range. He loved to rope with his dad, brother Dennis, and Uncle Ralph. He was a natural and well accomplished in calf roping and team roping. James once told his wife, “I don’t know if I want to go to Heaven if there aren’t horses”.
James was preceded in death by his parents Earl and Betty Lou, his older brother Gary, and his granddaughter Andee M’lee.
He will be missed by his wife Lynette, his children Amy (Rick) Willis,Kanab, UT; Chad (Jamie) Shelley, Rocksprings, WY; Matt Shelley, Kanab, UT; Choc (Brie) Shelley, Saratoga Springs, UT; Kortni Shelley, Kanab, UT; Jenny (J.D.) Stevens, Holden, UT; and Jori (Danny) Schofield, Cedar City, UT; 25 grandchildren, and two great grandchildren. James will also be missed by his brother Dennis (Kathie) Shelley, Roosevelt, AZ, and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.
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