Esther Shelley

Esther Shelley, 100, passed away June 21, 2014 in her Oley residence. She was born the daughter of Ervin and Buelah Lightner on December 13, 1913 in York, Pennsylvania. There is where she grew up with family and friends all around her. She lived in New York City in the late '30's and early 40's, moved to New Jersey in the late '40's, and then to Oley in late 1948. She attended Ursinus College and earned her teaching degree. She then taught and substituted in the early '50's in the Reading area. She loved being a wife to Donald, family duties, and her children. They moved to Michigan in the summer of '52, but maintained the Oley historical property while in Michigan raising their family. Ester and Donald moved back to Oley in 1976 and became active members of the Historical Preservation Trust and St. Gabriel's Episcopal Church. She belonged to the P.E.O.'s and supported education for women for many years starting back in New Jersey. She loved her vegetable gardens, apple orchard, and flower gardens for which she was very generous with. She is survived by her son David (Judye), daughter Lee (Erik), Grandchildren Einar (Gretchen), Robin (Keith), Erik (Marcie), great grandchildren, Leif (Kelli), Aaron, Bernard, Chelsea and great great grandchild Boden, all of Michigan.

Services were held in June at St Gabriel's Episcopal Church, Douglassville and burial was in Paddletown Cemetery, York County. Kuhn-Stitzel Funeral Homes and Crematory, Inc., Oley was in charge of arrangements. Online condolences may be recorded at www.kuhnstitzelfuneralhomes.com.