Hugh A. Shelley Jr.'s Obituary
Hugh A. Shelley Jr. (94), of Puyallup, Washington went to be with his Lord and Savior on December 18, 2024, surrounded by family. He was born at the Keene Elliot Community Hospital, Keene, New Hampshire on June 2, 1930, the son of Hugh A. Shelley Sr. and Annie M. (Johnson) Shelley. He grew up in East Westmoreland where he attended elementary school. He was a 1948 Graduate of Keene High School and attended UNH majoring in Forestry. He was employed by the US Forest Service in the Coeur D’Alene National Forest near Kingston, Idaho. On December 7, 1951 he enlisted in the US Air Force where he served for 21 years and retired at McChord Air Force Base, Washington in 1973. Hugh went on to work for AAMCO Transmissions in Tacoma, Washington and then for the Lakewood Library from September 1989 until August 1999.
While stationed in Japan, Hugh met and married Sawako Kawai, daughter of Kinu and Sohichi Kawai. They raised a son and two daughters wherever Hugh was stationed until finally residing in Lakewood, Washington. They loved and were proud of their family. Sawako died of cancer in 2004.
In 2007, Hugh went back to live in New Hampshire and married an old friend, Marcia (Perham) Starkey. Marcia did not like the term “step” children, so hers became his and his became hers. Unfortunately, Marcia died of cancer in 2011.
As a charter member, Hugh faithfully attended worship services at the Union Church “Community in Christ”, Westmoreland, New Hampshire.
In the summer of 2023, Hugh moved back to the Pacific Northwest to be close to his family. He settled at a senior living center, Julian Estates, in Puyallup, Washington. There he went to Sunday worship services held in the Chapel at Julian Estates.
Hugh was predeceased by his parents, his wives Sawako and Marcia, his sister Mary St. Lawrence, and his brothers Neal, Gale, and Walt Shelley, and sister-in-law Evelyn Shelley-Quinn, and daughter Sally Payne.
Hugh was a life member of The American Legion, National Rifle Association, The Tacoma Sportsman's Club, and the McChord AFB Sportsmen’s Club in Washington State. He especially enjoyed the shotgun sports: skeet, sporting clays, and trap. In 2008 he took up golf, playing at Bretwood Golf Course in Keene, New Hampshire, with his brothers. In 2015 he began golfing at Pine Grove Springs in Spofford, New Hampshire with his good friend Barbara Welsh. He also told stories of helping his friend Maria Callahan with her animals on her farm in Westmoreland, New Hampshire. He also spoke fondly of the Saturday night dances he attended with Mary LaBrie held in the surrounding villages.
He will be missed by his sons Kenneth Shelley, Jim Starkey and John Starkey; daughters Christine (Jim) Dobbins, Carol Shelley, and Diane Castor; granddaughters Jessica (Jonathon) Peterson, and Shawna (Landon) Cross; grandsons Benjamin Shelley, Nicholas (Emily) Shelley, Cory Dobbins, and Ian (Bonnie) Shelley; and sisters-in-law Carolyn Shelley and Carol Shelley. He is also survived by several nieces, nephews, cousins and ten great grandchildren and the many friends he made at Julian Estates. Puyallup, Washington.
Funeral Service – Monday, December 30th at 3:00 p.m. at Mountain View Garden Chapel, 4100 Steilacoom Blvd SW, Lakewood, WA
Graveside/Committal Service with Military Honors – Friday, January 3, 2025, at 10:30 a.m. at Mountain View Funeral Home and Cemetery, 4100 Steilacoom Blvd SW, Lakewood, WA
Memorial Service – Union Church “Community in Christ” in New Hampshire (date and time to be scheduled after the holidays), for those wishing to attend from New England.
Address: 998 NH-12, Westmoreland, NH, 03467
In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to The American Cancer Society, or The Monadnock Humane Society (New Hampshire).
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