Ray, Michele 'Shelly' (Mrs. Jeff)

Michele “Shelly” (Mrs. Jeff) Ray, 45, of Toledo, died Monday morning, May 2, 2011, at the Israel Hospice House in Ames. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, May 6, at the Living Faith United Methodist Church in Tama, with the Rev. Brian Oliver officiating. She will be laid to rest at the Oakhill Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday at the church.

A memorial fund is being established for the college education of her children, Adam and Abby.

For condolences, please visit . The Mitchell Family Funeral Home in Marshalltown is caring for Shelly and her family. Phone (641) 844-1234.

Born Michele Kesl on Oct. 8, 1965, in Oak Park, Ill., she was the daughter of Sherry (Willson), Jim Kesl and Larry Mattingly. She graduated from the South Tama High School's Class of 1984 and later attended MCC, receiving her certificate for child care, a profession she loved and cherished. Shelly was a member of the Living Faith United Methodist Church and treasured her family. She enjoyed crafts, camping and bonfires, scrapbooking, stamping and her Pug, “Pugs.”

Left to treasure her family are her husband, Jeff whom she married on April 9, 2002; her children, Adam and Abby; her parents, Sherry and Jim Kesl of Tama; siblings, Matt (Diane) Kesl of Tama, James (Ann) Kesl Jr. of San Diego, Julie (Casey) Brazell of Custer, S.D., and Janet (Darin) Vorwald of Cedar Rapids; and several nieces, nephews, the precious children she cared for in day care and many friends as well as the Ray family.

In death, she rejoined her brother, Mike Kesl; and her grandparents.