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Shelly Renee Druffel
01/02/1964 — 07/06/2003
From Richland, WA, US | Born in Fort Ord, California
Shelly Renee Druffel
Shelly Renee Druffel, 39, from Richland, WA. went to live with the Lord on July 6, 2003. Shelly fought a long and courageous battle with breast cancer for 7 years.
Shelly was born at Fort Ord, CA. on January 2, 1964, to Ray and Pat Heimgartner. She attended schools in Lewiston & Post Falls, ID and graduated from Clarkston High School in 1982. While in high school she played the saxophone in the band and was a member of the drill team. Shelly loved spending time at her grandparents and aunt & uncles farms near Kendrick, ID. She worked as a lifeguard during the summers while in high school and college. Shelly attended Lewis Clark State College, Lewiston, ID for 2 years and Spokane Community college for 2 years where she graduated as a Certified Surgical Technician in 1986. She worked 2 years at Kootenai General Hospital in Couer d` Alene before moving to Seattle, WA. She worked at Virginia Mason Hospital for the next 7 years. The friendships she made there were life long. Shelly loved to golf and played regularly with her friends and co-workers in Seattle.
She met Tim Druffel, her soul mate and best friend in 1993. They were married in Lewiston on May 20, 1995. They were blessed by God with the birth of their daughter, Kailey, on Dec. 12, 1996. Shellys greatest loves in life were being a wife and mommy. Tim and Kailey were the light of her life. The greatest honor in her life was being Kaileys mommy. Kailey was her greatest motivation in her fight against cancer.
They lived in Eltopia, WA for two years and moved to an extremely friendly, Christian neighborhood in Richland in 1998. Neighborhood barbecues and gatherings were common at their home. She was an active member of Christ the King Catholic Church in Richland. Shelly was a room mother for Kaileys kindergarten class and loved spending time working with the children. She also regularly attended a bible study at Christ the King.
Shelly will always be remembered for her magnetic personality and beautiful smile. Her presence would always light up a room when she entered. Her faith and courage helped her live every day to its fullest and motivated everyone around her to do the same.
Surviving and left to honor her life is her daughter, Kailey; parents Ray and Pat Heimgartner of Clarkston, brother Greg Heimgartner and wife Kim, nephew Clint and niece Jackie of Clarkston; Father and Mother-in law Tom and Linda Druffel of Pullman, WA; Sistersin law Beth Druffel and friend Robin of Winston Salem, NC.; Jill and husband Steve Boer and daughter, Ellie, of Mt. Vernon, WA. Jodie and husband Travis Pratt of Pullman, WA. and numerous uncles,aunts and cousins.
She was preceded in death by her husband Tim Druffel, Dec. 6, 2002. A visitation will be held at Einans Funeral Home in Richland on Wednesday July 9 from 5 to 8pm and Thursday July 10 from 3 to 5pm. The rosary will be recited at 6pm on Thursday July 10, at Einans Funeral Home. Funeral mass will be celebrated at Christ the King Church at 10am Friday July 11. Burial will follow at Vineland Cemetary in Clarkston, WA at 3pm. Memorials may be made to American Funds FBO Kailey M. Druffel, 19606 State Route 410 E, Bonney Lake, WA 98390-8490, Attn: Shane Klingenstein or charity of your choice. Express your thoughts and memories in the online guest book at www.einansfuneralhome.com under the obituary section.
A memorial service will be held at 2pm, Sunday July 13 at Lewiston First United Methodist Church, 1906 Broadview, Lewiston, ID.
Ray, Pat, and Kailey,
I grew up always having Shelly as a “friendly” cousin. She was always at the family reunions, and we’d play and got along like great buddies. I remember stories of how she used to whisper what was on the board to my younger, and at the time, shy brother who needed glasses. She wasn’t worried about what the grade school teachers would say, she just did what her heart felt was right. Later, we roomed in Spokane together as we were both going to school there. We’d have study sessions, and I’d quiz her for her tests. She was always enthusiastic about learning and I always got the feeling that she put 100% into everything she did!! I still remember the time that I was trying to lose weight and had hung a picture of a ‘huge’ lady on the frig. She came hopping into my room asking about it. I told her it was my incentive not to eat. Her comment was “wow!!you could eat ALOT for a LONG time before you’d EVER look like that!!”…The picture came down. Her perspective was so fresh and unique! When things were getting me down, Shelly could make me laugh. Her smile definately lit a room and just made you want to smile back. What impressed me was her strength and her support.
I have no doubt that we all another guardian angel. I pray for God’s Grace to comfort you all.
Sincerely,
Christy Johnson Sullivan
Ray, Pat, and Kailey,
I grew up always having Shelly as a “friendly” cousin. She was always at the family reunions, and we’d play and got along like great buddies. I remember stories of how she used to whisper what was on the board to my younger, and at the time, shy brother who needed glasses. She wasn’t worried about what the grade school teachers would say, she just did what her heart felt was right. Later, we roomed in Spokane together as we were both going to school there. We’d have study sessions, and I’d quiz her for her tests. She was always enthusiastic about learning and I always got the feeling that she put 100% into everything she did!! I still remember the time that I was trying to lose weight and had hung a picture of a ‘huge’ lady on the frig. She came hopping into my room asking about it. I told her it was my incentive not to eat. Her comment was “wow!!you could eat ALOT for a LONG time before you’d EVER look like that!!”…The picture came down. Her perspective was so fresh and unique! When things were getting me down, Shelly could make me laugh. Her smile definately lit a room and just made you want to smile back. What impressed me was her strength and her support.
I have no doubt that we all another guardian angel. I pray for God’s Grace to comfort you all.
Sincerely,
Christy Johnson Sullivan
Shelly is an inspiration to us and we were very fortunate to have known her. She will certainly be missed and always remembered. Our thoughts and prayers to her family, May God keep you strong.
I can’t tell you how sad I feel. All of you have been part of our family for 30 years. Shelly was and will continue to be so dear to us. I do believe that there are angels on earth, because I have known Shelly. Love to you all.
Ray & Pat: May God sustain you in your loss.
Bob & Chris
Shelly and I graduated together from Clarkston High School together. We were on the drill team together. She was my BEST FRIEND. We had so much fun together, she was always so full of life. It seems that all we did was laugh, laugh, laugh. Shelly has been and always will be a bright spot in my life. I will always remember Shelly for the great and wonderful person she always was not just to me but all the people she came into contact with. My life will always be fuller because of Shelly. My condolences goes out to her family. If there is anything that I can do to help her family, please contact me. Shelly you will always be remembered and I am going to miss you terribly. I love and am going to miss you. Love, your friend Eva McKinney
My thoughts and prayers are with Shelly’s family and friends. Kailey is a very lucky little girl to have had 2 wonderful parents like Tim and Shelley.
All our love
Bob and Sara Stout
We want to extend our very deepest sympathies to Kailey and all of Shelly’s family and friends. As I think of how we all prayed for a miracle for Shelly, I realized that a miracle did happen and the miracle was Shelly. She has taught me so much about friendship. Even though miles and time separated us, we were always able to chat as if we were sitting together in the same room. How I’ll always remember her laugh and sense of humor! When we moved to Seattle, I didn’t know anyone besides Dan, and her friendship was such a blessing being so far from South Dakota. She was the maid of honor at my wedding, which meant so much to me. Shelly has taught me so much about dignity and love through example. I am so thankful that our paths crossed and that love and friendship bloomed. Thank you for the miracle, Shelly! Till we meet again-Love Sue Wallner.
Shelly, I had a great time at our 20 year class reunion this last summer; so much has happened since then. You are the most courgeous woman I know. Kailey is blessed to have such a wonderful mother. Bless you always. Thinking of you often. Laura
I know our risen Christ has welcomed Shelly into His heavenly kingdom. Shelly was a beautiful gift to us all.
Our hearts were broken upon hearing of Shelly’s passing. Although we know she is in a place without pain or suffering, we will miss her so. We both graduated with Shelly from Clarkston High school and have many fond memories from those years. We were able to see her for the first time in years at our 20 year class reunion and are so thankful that we had that precious time with her.
Our thoughts and prayers are with her family. Shelly, we have faith we will see you again one day to share many more laughs and good times.
With love always,
Doug and Teri Thomas Lenz
Ray & Pat
We are so sorry to hear of your loss. Your memories of her will sustain you in your sorrow.
Gordon & Juanita
Pat & Ray –
From your army friends at Fort Ord nearly 40 years ago. We send our most heart felt sympathies.
We are certain she was such a great and loving person because her parents displayed the same traits. We recall the happiness of our army days and of meeting Shelly and your family nearly 3 years ago.
Now we send our love and open our arms to comfort you during this time of loss.
Love,
Jim & Linda Howell
Warren, Indiana
To the family:
My family and I would like to express our deepest sympathies over the loss of such a wonderful person. Shelly and I graduated from Clarkston High and also attended Lewis-Clark State together. Throughout those years I found Shelly to be such a warm and caring person, always greeting you with a smile. Shelly is someone that will truly be missed by all whos lives she touched.
I saw Shelly last year at our 20-year reunion and it was so great to see her and her warm smile. I am sure that she is in a better place.
Sincerely,
Greg Hannan and Family
As we all know life takes and gives in many unpredictable ways. Some of the things I suppose we should have predicted is that the evolution of our lives can take us different places in different ways without notice or justification. From that it can be easy lose touch. I am grateful that Shelly and I never lost touch, in fact I am grateful for every moment of her in my life and I didn’t tell her as often as I should have how much I loved and appreciated her; she was my first friend in life – as a child she was my first and closest friend. I have a thousand ‘snapshot’ memories of Shelly; As children when our parents got together and we played the clearest memory I have is us slipping notes under the door back and forth – we were 2ish. Not far behind that was her clear and obvious attempt at scaring me to death in her explanation of what the ‘boogie man’ was but furthermore where he was…across the street according in her convincing explanation. Looking back on those times I still smile recalling those very fond memories, although I may still be afraid of the boogie man…
As our lives progressed I watched in admiration as her life evolved. I remember her passion for life to include her work as a surgical tech and thinking to myself that she had once again done something I couldn’t do. She were even taller than me and seldom missed an opportunity to reminded me of that with a giggle…I loved that giggle. I remember she kindly came to my Grandfathers funeral – she had just met Tim and was beaming with pride and beauty – it was the most beautiful I have ever seen her. I also recall her staying up with me all night on the phone when I had broken up with a girlfriend – she was always there and could comforted me with such ease.
In recent years life hasn’t been fair. She has been through a lot and I wonder if she knew how much grace and dignity she has shown in confronting the most difficult challenges that have presented themselves in her life; she never got ‘off message’, remaining positive and dignified to a fault. Through the most daunting challenges she stayed on course with her consistent and positive presence – no matter what the circumstance she continued to touch peoples lives in the gentle ‘Shelly way’… I wonder if she knew what a blessing she was. What I know is that she had choices to be who she was or something else and she chose to be the Shelly that I loved, for that I am grateful. It occurs to me that few people have the gifts or willingness to utilize those gifts that she did – she was are a rare and special person. She made me wonder 37 years ago, she continues to reside in my thoughts and heart in wonderment.
She is my friend of a lifetime, my first human gift from God, and I loved her – I regret I didn’t say it often enough but I have always and will always love her, admire her, thank God for the gift of her. The days of passing notes under a door may have long passed but the days of you touching so many lives and hearts is just beginning.
I thank God for sharing Shelly with me, being my friend and a beacon of dignity for all of my life. God, please accept my appreciation of your generosity in giving me a clear vision of what a person should be, could be, and is. I loved her more than my words have expressed or that I have the capability of expressing…for now just let me say thank you.
Dear friend, I will see you later.
Guestbook for
Shelly Renee Druffel