Marie Crumbley Shelton passed away peacefully May 5, 2014, the eve of her 94th birthday, in her home at Regency on Whidbey, Oak Harbor.

She was born on May 6, 1920, to Agnes Webb-Bonser and Alfred Kummer Crumbley in Portland, Ore. Her sister, Doris, was born just one year later. Close in age and close in heart, they have shared a strong life-long bond.

Marie was a proud descendant of the Simon Morgan Reeder family, who crossed the plains on the Oregon Trail in 1853 and settled on Sauvies Island near Portland, Ore.

Marie was raised in Spokane, where the family moved because of their father’s job with the railroad. She spent her summers on her aunt and uncle’s farm near Portland, working, playing and forming life-time bonds with her extended family.

Marie was an excellent student, attending Spokane schools and graduating salutatorian of the Class of 1938 at John Rogers High School.

After high school, Marie attended a year of college on scholarship to Eastern Washington College.

Marie married B.B. Shelton from Tuscaloosa, Ala., who was in the Navy, stationed in Seattle in 1946. Their son, Tracy James, was born in 1949. Being Navy family, they traveled and lived near several duty stations in the U.S. and Panama.

Marie and B.B. were caring parents who were involved in their son’s activities. Marie taught Sunday and Bible school, helped with Scouts, Church Youth Group, sports and so on.

When B.B. retired from the Navy, the family returned to Tuscaloosa where they lived near B.B.’s extended family and where they raised their son. Sadly, B.B. passed away in 1968 after an extended illness, but Marie continued to live in Tuscaloosa, working for the county of Tuscaloosa for several years.

Marie then moved to Oak Harbor to live near her sister and family and was employed in the supply department at NAS Whidbey, where she again enjoyed her connection to Navy life.

Her son passed away 1992 and left a huge hole in her heart and in her life.

Marie had a strong faith and was a very active part of her church family, usually Lutheran, wherever she lived. She also enjoyed handicrafts and bestowed many afghans to family and friends over the years. She was a collector of turtles, rooted for the Alabama “Red Tide,” was fond of bulldogs, and a wearer of angel pins. Marie belonged to many organizations over the years, among them Eastern Star, Fleet Reserve, Emblem Club, Daughters of the Pioneers and several Lutheran Churches, including Oak Harbor Lutheran Church.

Marie was a strong, independent, courageous woman who will be missed greatly by her family and friends.

She is survived by her sister, Doris Dykers of Oak Harbor; niece Doreen (Ray) Wardenaar and their sons, Joel (Lisa), Jake (Farrah) and Jed Wardenaar, all of Othello, Wash.; nephew Larry (Joyce) Dykers and their daughter, Julia, and son, Chapin, all of Auburn, Wash.; her close friend of 86 years, Sadie Stoynac and her sons Greg and Steve (Barbara), all of Spokane, Wash., and her daughter, Marion of Virginia; niece Darla Glass, and her son Michael Valdez of Athol, Idaho, and her daughters, Missy, Monique and Mercedes, of Spokane; her daughters-in-law, Sherry Pennington, Sharon Curry and Monica Rivera; grandchildren Kenny, April, Amanda and Kyle; great-grandchildren of Alabama, Arkansas and Florida; many nieces, nephews, including the Dykers and Wardenaar family nieces and nephews; and many good friends.

A memorial service is 2 p.m. Saturday, May 17, 2014, at Wallin Funeral Home, Reception Center, 1811 N.E. 16th Ave., Oak Harbor, WA 98277, 360-675-3447, with Pastor Marc Stroud of Oak Harbor Lutheran Church, officiating.

In Memory of Marie, in lieu of flowers, to honor Marie’s great love of children, donations may be made to the Oak Harbor Lutheran Church “High School Youth Fund,” 1253 N.W. 2nd Ave., Oak Harbor, WA 98277.

Please visit Marie’s page in the Book of Memories at www.wallinfuneralhome.com to share thoughts and memories.