Lois E. (Pond) Welky Shigley - beloved mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, friend, confidante and mentor - passed away quietly in Carson City, Nev., on May 19, 2008. Mrs. Shigley, 83, resided most of her life on Queen Anne Hill. Her husband, Ned Shigley, preceded her in death in 2004. She is survived by her daughter, Earlene Welky Issel, Carson City; her son, Chuck Welky; grandsons Kyle, Sam, and Kip Welky; sister Cleone Christian, all of Seattle; and five nieces and nephews.
Mrs. Shigley was born on Feb. 26, 1925, the first child of Earl and Agnes Pond whose families were both longtime residents of Ferndale, Wash. The family moved to Seattle when she was a child, purchasing a home on Smith Street. She attended Coe Elementary School and graduated from Queen Anne High School in 1943. In 1948, Lois graduated from the UW, with a major in physical education, a minor in English, with her secondary level teacher's certification.
Her adventurous spirit sent her from the classroom to a job with the American Red Cross at the San Diego Naval Hospital where she met and married Marine Staff Sgt. James Welky. They returned to Seattle to raise their family, where Jim earned his degree in psychology and she returned to teaching. She taught in the Bellevue School District for 30 years, retiring in 1983.
Mrs. Shigley embraced this next chapter in her life - traveling throughout the United States and Europe, supporting the local arts: ballet, symphony and theater. In 1987, she married her high school sweetheart, Ned Shigley, and they spent many years socializing with old QAHS friends, playing cards, taking trips to Nevada and enjoying their three grandchildren. After Ned's death, Mrs. Shigley moved to Carson City to be with her daughter.
There will be a Celebration of Life on Friday, July 25 from 2-4 p.m. in the NHS Hall at the Center for Urban Horticulture, 3501 N.E. 41st St., Seattle. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the local PBS station.[[In-content Ad]]
