Obituary for Gary Anthony Shelley
Gary Anthony Shelley
Gary, one of “the few good things that came out of Flint,” died at home, surrounded by the
people he loved most, on Saturday, October 9, 2021. He would have loved to say he was
mauled by a bear, or succumbed to injuries sustained from some Herculean effort, but, in truth,
leukemia got him in the end. He hated that.
He was born on March 21, 1942, to Marcus “Gene” Shelley and Bessie Belle Shelley Coates
(née Wildfong) in Flint, Michigan at Hurley Hospital. Showing artistic talent at an early age, he
decided that he would do two things: join the Marines and go to art school in Chicago. He
succeeded in doing both.
While finishing his program at American Academy of Art and working night shifts at Marshall
Fields in Chicago, he detained a beautiful young woman with a dazzling smile to check her ID.
With his typical charming self, he was soon dating, and later married, Dolores (née Olivos).
They were married for 55 years and had two daughters.
After retiring from advertising, Gary settled down in North Carolina and devoted his time to fine
art and family. As an artist, he was featured in several national and local publications, art
exhibits, and art councils. Even in his illness, he would constantly talk about and plan paintings
for the future. As a family man, he never missed an opportunity to have a glass of wine or a cup
of coffee and a good laugh with his wife, daughters, sons-in-law, or grandchildren.
Those who will miss him are his wife, Dolores, and daughters Michele (Ken) Miller and Monica
(James) Henson, as well as his grandchildren: Anna Henson, Natalie Henson, Adam Miller,
Jacob Henson, and Aidan Miller. He also leaves brothers Robert (Margaret) Shelley of Michigan, William (Janice) Shelley of North Carolina, and sister, Sally (Garland) Ireland of
Michigan, as well as host of nieces, nephews, friends, and neighbors.
A funeral Mass will be held at St. Michael’s Catholic Church, in Gastonia, at 1 p.m. on Friday,
October 22, with a private internment held later in Michigan. The family would like to apologize
to all the nurses at Caromont Hospital and with Hospice and Palliative Care of the Charlotte
Region for all of Gary’s jokes and shameless flirting. Truly, your care and assistance were very
much appreciated.
Gary, one of “the few good things that came out of Flint,” died at home, surrounded by the
people he loved most, on Saturday, October 9, 2021. He would have loved to say he was
mauled by a bear, or succumbed to injuries sustained from some Herculean effort, but, in truth,
leukemia got him in the end. He hated that.
He was born on March 21, 1942, to Marcus “Gene” Shelley and Bessie Belle Shelley Coates
(née Wildfong) in Flint, Michigan at Hurley Hospital. Showing artistic talent at an early age, he
decided that he would do two things: join the Marines and go to art school in Chicago. He
succeeded in doing both.
While finishing his program at American Academy of Art and working night shifts at Marshall
Fields in Chicago, he detained a beautiful young woman with a dazzling smile to check her ID.
With his typical charming self, he was soon dating, and later married, Dolores (née Olivos).
They were married for 55 years and had two daughters.
After retiring from advertising, Gary settled down in North Carolina and devoted his time to fine
art and family. As an artist, he was featured in several national and local publications, art
exhibits, and art councils. Even in his illness, he would constantly talk about and plan paintings
for the future. As a family man, he never missed an opportunity to have a glass of wine or a cup
of coffee and a good laugh with his wife, daughters, sons-in-law, or grandchildren.
Those who will miss him are his wife, Dolores, and daughters Michele (Ken) Miller and Monica
(James) Henson, as well as his grandchildren: Anna Henson, Natalie Henson, Adam Miller,
Jacob Henson, and Aidan Miller. He also leaves brothers Robert (Margaret) Shelley of Michigan, William (Janice) Shelley of North Carolina, and sister, Sally (Garland) Ireland of
Michigan, as well as host of nieces, nephews, friends, and neighbors.
A funeral Mass will be held at St. Michael’s Catholic Church, in Gastonia, at 1 p.m. on Friday,
October 22, with a private internment held later in Michigan. The family would like to apologize
to all the nurses at Caromont Hospital and with Hospice and Palliative Care of the Charlotte
Region for all of Gary’s jokes and shameless flirting. Truly, your care and assistance were very
much appreciated.