Shirley Juanita 'Shellie' Jones Allum, 73

Shellie Allum, 73, passed away peacefully in her sleep early Saturday morning, June 6, 2009, at North Valley Hospital. She was born Feb. 12, 1936, in Trenton, Mo., to Harry C. and Gertrude Booher Jones. She had several siblings, Russell, Willard, Woodie, Charles, Walter, Jesse, Winona and Kenneth. They moved from Missouri to Montana in 1939.

She lived in Missoula a short time, then moved to Greenfield Bench and lived on a farm for 14 years, then to Polson for a brief time in 1950 and to the Flathead for her remaining years. She went to Crowe Elementary, Simms Junior High and Polson Junior High, and Flathead High School.

She married Richard W. Allum on Nov. 7, 1964, and adopted a daughter in 1967.

Shellie loved a good book, especially mystery novels. She liked doing crossword puzzles and listening to all kinds of music, even rap with the great-grandkids. Her best times were going to breakfast with her grandkids, playing pinochle at the seniors center with friends, having a fun argument with Jack at the dinner table and visiting with her best friends Myrna Dull and Doris Mattheisen. She cherished her family, especially her grandkids and great-grandkids. She was quick-witted and intelligent, and always had the answer when someone called for help, whether it was how to spell a word or what the word meant. She was good at writing reports for school when Ronda, Jen, Michael and even some of their friends would ask her for help. She was always willing to watch her grandkids and great-grandkids whenever she could. She will always be remembered as a good wife, homemaker, mom, grandma, great-grandma and friend.

Shellie was preceded in death by her parents, Harry and Gertrude Jones; her husband, Richard Allum; brothers, Russell, Willard, Woodie, Charles, Walter and Jesse; and sister, Winona.

She is survived by her brother, Kenneth Jones, of Ferndale; her daughter, Ronda Heil, and her husband, Jack, of Columbia Falls; grandson, Michael Mattheisen, of Everett, Wash.; and her granddaughter, Jenniffer Nelson, and her husband, CJ, and their children (great-grandkids), Austin, Jayden and Alexis, of Columbia Falls.

Memorial services will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday, June 11, at Columbia Mortuary.