Florence Mary Shively died peacefully on April 9, 2024, at Sunrise Senior Living in Issaquah. Florence and her twin Frances were born January 15, 1924 to Michael and Florence Marshall in Idaho Falls, ID, joining five older siblings. In her 100-plus years on this earth Florence had a full and well-lived life.
Florence was a gracious, generous, classy lady. She loved spending time with family and friends. She enjoyed the outdoors, cross-county and alpine skiing, hiking, fishing, camping, golfing and dancing with her husband Neal. Music and theater were also her passions. Florence attended the Seattle Opera, Seattle Symphony, and the Issaquah Village Theater well into her 90s.
During her freshman year at the University of Idaho, Florence met Austin Hanny whom she married in 1944. Austin’s plane was lost in the Pacific in 1945 immediately after WWII ended while he was delivering food to American POWs. Their daughter Anita was just 10 days old.
Florence and Anita moved to Corvallis, Oregon to live with Frances and brother-in-law, Tom Slayton. Tom and Florence attended Oregon State University while Frances took care of Anita and their own son, Karl. As a war widow, Florence qualified for GI-bill benefits. Using credits from OSU, Florence graduated from the University of Idaho with a degree in Dietetics in 1947.
While Florence was at OSU, Tom introduced Neal Shively to his “good-looking sister-in-law who had a car.” Florence and Neal were happily married for 72 years until Neal’s death in 2019. The couple had four children, Anita Hanny Shively Kalantari, Cynthia Shively McWilliams, Frances Shively Ramon and Neal Shively Jr.
Florence was a wonderful wife and mother. She was organized and supported her family in all of their activities and events. She made sure each of her children was able to enjoy their own passions growing up, including ballet, piano, ice skating, soccer, and hockey. Florence was a nursery school teacher for a time and spent many years working in the jewelry business.
Florence and Neal loved to travel and took many wonderful trips to Europe, Mexico, Canada, the Caribbean, Hawaii and other US states. They especially enjoyed sailing trips with family on the boat of their son-in-law Bijan and daughter Anita.
Florence is survived by her daughter, Cynthia McWilliams (Larry, decd. 2020), and son, Neal Jr. She was preceded in death by her daughters Anita Shively Kalantari (1999) and Frances Shively Ramon (2023). She is also survived by sons-in-law Bijan Kalantari and Victor Ramon; grandchildren Sarah McWilliams, Marisa Ramon, Rachael Ramon Knodel (Nate), Victor Ramon, Stephen Ramon, Lauren Shively Fisher (Jared) and Payton Natalie Shively; and great grandchildren, Isabel, Jackson and Beckett Knodel and Maddox and Bodhi Fisher; and many nieces and nephews.
Florence was a devoted Catholic. She was very appreciative of the Eucharistic ministers who brought her communion and for EWTN, so she could still attend Mass remotely. The family extends special thanks for the prayers shared with Florence and the loving care provided by many cherished caregivers during her years at Island House on Mercer Island, and Sunrise Living in Issaquah. Florence will be greatly missed.
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