Zeller, Shay Pauly

Shay Pauly Zeller, 28, of Marion, died suddenly Monday, Nov. 4, 2013, in Des Moines. Funeral Mass: 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 7, at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Marion. The family will greet friends from 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at Murdoch Funeral Home & Cremation Center, Marion, and one hour before the service at the church. Private family inurnment: Springville Cemetery, Springville.

Survivors include his parents, Ted and Theresa of Solon; his siblings, Evan and Kate Zeller; and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Bob and Vera Pauly and Joe and Fern Zeller, all of Springville.

Shay was born Jan. 14, 1985, in Cedar Rapids, the son of Ted and Theresa (Pauly) Zeller. He graduated from Xavier High School in 2003. While studying communications at the University of Iowa, Shay discovered his passion for cooking. He transferred to Kirkwood Community College for its culinary arts program.

Shay was the sous chef at Bistro Montage in Des Moines. He worked at several fine dining restaurants in Iowa City, Coralville, North Liberty, Buffalo, and Toronto, Canada. In his travels he found great lifelong friends. He would give money or the shirt off his back to a friend in need.

Fresh ingredients were always a top priority for Shay. He could spend hours making just the right sauce for a new dish. His current dream was to move again, to Denver, Austin, Chicago or Seattle. He had been planning and researching top restaurants and chefs in those locations.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the family in Shay's memory.

Please sign and share your stories on the online guest book for Shay at www.murdochfuneralhome.com under obituaries.

Published Nov. 6, 2013 in The Gazette

Updated day of death online only