Lynn Collette Shelby

ARLEE — Lynn Collette Shelby, 53, went to be with the ancestors on Thursday, Feb. 1, 2007, following injuries received in an auto accident near Evaro Hill.

Lynn, a member of the Confederated Salish & Kootenai Tribes, was born on Sept. 12, 1953, at the Holy Family Hospital in St. Ignatius to Dorothy (Morigeau) and Robert Shelby.

Lynn grew up in Arlee. She began her education in Arlee and went on to Chilocco Indian School in Oklahoma, then to Roswell, N.M., and completed her education at the Southwest Indian Polytechnical Institute receiving her degree in Graphic Arts. With this degree she went to work for the CharKoosta first in Dixon and then Pablo, Forest Service in Stevensville, also at the Irvine Lookout. She later began self-employment post and poling, collecting pine cones, huckleberry picking. Lynn and Stella were also very well known for their excellent Christmas tree sales.

As Lynn was always one with the mountains, she chose to spend a majority of her time sharing her knowledge and culture with the younger generation. Whether it be a camping trip, fishing expedition, or going for a drive in the woods it was always considered time well spent.

Lynn enjoyed being around her family, nieces and nephews and the young people. She was an excellent mechanic and loved the outdoors where she would hike, hunt and fish amongst other things. Lynn loved to travel but she always loved it best when she came home. A wonderful woman with a big heart, Lynn was considerate to everyone, even once giving a hitchhiker the coat off her back. She will be greatly missed and will always be with us in our hearts.

Lynn was preceded in death by her grandparents on each side, her parents, brothers Dennis Shelby, Dale Shelby and Rusty Fiddler, and nieces Shasta and Lindsey.

She leaves behind her partner of 18 years, Stella Morigeau of Arlee; brothers Bruce (Velda) Shelby of Pablo and Gary Shelby of Arlee; sisters Deeda (Neil) Adams of Arlee and Zelda “Zag” (Charlie) Charlo, Connie Stevens of Deer Lodge, Arlene Brown of New Mexico; granddaughter Yolanda, god-daughter Melinda Charlo and Aunt Alice “Abby” Gardipe of Arlee, and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Mass was celebrated Monday, Feb. 5, at the Center with interment following in the Jocko Cemetery near Arlee.

Foster & Durgeloh Funeral Home of St. Ignatius was in charge of arrangements.