Shelly N. Vande Werfhorst, 57, lifelong Oak Harbor resident, died at Island Hospital in Anacortes on July 30, 2008, after a valiant battle with liver disease.

Shelly was born in Oak Harbor on Aug. 30, 1950, to Urban Faber and Elizabeth (Tenbrink) Faber. She attended Oak Harbor Christian School through eigth grade, and then Oak Harbor High School. Shelly married Frank Vande Werfhorst, Jr., on May 3, 1968. In 1969, Shelly and Frank bought the dairy farm on Monroe Landing Road, which they worked until 1998. She was a past member of the Dairy Federation and the Young Dairy Co-operatives. They won the Dairy Farm of the Year Award in 1978. She was a member of the Oak Harbor Christian Reformed Church.

Shelly loved her family. She also had a passion for making porcelain dolls.

She loved animals of every kind. This included not only farm animals, such as the baby calves she so loved to care for, but her home was always a haven for an assortment of cats, dogs and birds.

Shelly is survived by her husband Frank; two daughters, Vicki Mertins (Hans) of Oak Harbor and Stacy McCollough (Pat) of Pensacola, Fla.; six grandchildren, Mitchel, Brent and Mariah Mertins and Blake, Brandon and Brittany McCollough; her mother, Elizabeth Osterholt (Richard) of Oak Harbor; brother Dennis Faber (Renee) of Oak Harbor; sister, Darlene Arnold (Fred) of Ferndale; also, numerous other relatives. She was preceded in death by her father Urban Faber in 1980 and a sister, Judy Reuble in 1972.

Visitation will be Tuesday, Aug. 5, at Whidbey Memorial Chapel from 4 to 8 p.m. A memorial service will be Wednesday, Aug. 6, at 2 p.m. at the Oak Harbor Christian Reformed Church, 1411 Wieldraayer Rd., Pastor Randy Beumer officiating. This will be preceded by a private family graveside at Sunnyside Cemetery.

Arrangements are with the assistance of Whidbey Memorial Funeral & Cremation Service, Inc., 746 NE Midway Blvd., Oak Harbor. Friends and family wishing may sign the online guest register by going to www.whid

beymemorial.com.