Peter M Shelley

Pete Shelley was born on January 31, 1949, the son of Ernest and Josephine Shelley and passed away quietly in his sleep on May 30, 2016, following a two and one-half year battle with cancer. His wife, Jeanne, and his two golden retrievers, Jack and Mookie were at his side. Pete graduated from East Lansing High School and attended Olivet College receiving his Bachelor’s degree in Social Work. Pete had a lifelong passion for music, joining a rock and roll band in high school, transitioning in his 30’s to blue grass music, playing a guitar. Taking up a ukulele in his later years, he shared his talent with local school children. Just like his father, he was an avid boxing historian. He and Jeanne enjoyed spending spring breaks in Florida, relaxing at the pool and indulging his fascination with alligators and other Florida creatures. He loved vacationing on Lake Michigan compulsively searching for Petoskey stones and chucking balls with the dogs in the chilly lake waters. Pete was a social worker at Community Mental Health for 16+ years before retiring in 2012. He will be remembered as a strong client advocate and champion of the mentally ill, an untiring social worker, a man of good sense, a father figure and a mentor to many, and perhaps most of all, an unrepentant prankster. A huge dog lover, Pete was instrumental in introducing Pet Therapy to the Bridges Unit, a significant part of aiding in the recovery-from-crisis for the consumers. He was innovative, unflappable and could always be relied upon to aid in crises as they arose in the unit.

Pete was a good and loyal friend to many, some friendships dating back to elementary school. His love of people and his ability to connect with anyone is what will most be remembered about him. Until his last days, he was joking and making other people laugh. He wanted friends and family to remember him that way---and so we shall. Pete was preceded in death by his parents, his brother, Paul Shelley, his father and mother-in-law, John and Clarice Sirmeyer. Surviving to cherish his memory are his wife, Jeanne, his sister Prudence Fowler, his sisters-in-law Anne VandenBrooks and Rosemary Cary Garthwaite, his brother-in-law, John Sirmeyer (Cyndi Fritz) and nephews Peter, Timothy (Patty) and Daniel. A Celebration of Life will be held at 3:30 pm on Friday, June 10 at Gorsline Runciman Funeral Homes, 1730 East Grand River Ave., East Lansing, MI. The family will receive friends at 1 pm until 3:30 pm. MSU and Hawaiian attire would be welcomed. Memorial contributions may be made in Pete’s memory to Pet Support Services of Lansing, 812 Stanley, Lansing, MI 48915 or to Music is the Foundation, 749 Cleo, Lansing, MI 48915. For floral arrangements, the family suggests Smith Floral on Grand River Ave. Condolences and memories may be shared with the family at www.greastlansing.com.