Shirley Bellier passed away peacefully at home on December 22. Shirley Ann Bellier was born in Wichita Falls on September 1, 1944, to Albert Kelley and Ruby Davis. She was preceded in death by her father, Albert Kelley, mother, Ruby Mae Davis, and son-in-law Mark Cole.

She is survived by her siblings: brothers Mike (Linda) Kelly, and Nathan (Shelley) Kelly, and sister Angela Davis. Daughters: Rhonda Cole, Debbie (Jerry) Mercer, Sharon (Dennis) Wren. Grandchildren: Miranda Davis, Ronnie (Rachel) Davis. A great-granddaughter, Marley Roberts. And five nieces and two nephews.

The door was always open at Shirley’s house; you could walk into her house at any time of day. If you were lucky enough to stop by when she was home, you were warmly welcomed with a solid hug and a greeting of “Get in this house, Hun,” and you left with a pocket full of snickers. She would move mountains for anyone.

Shirley was one of the strongest women I have ever known. At 79, she ran circles around most people, engaging in many projects that others would shy away from. She and her daughter, Rhonda, ran a two-woman construction team that I lovingly dubbed “The Dream Team” because if they dreamt it up, they would make it happen. She did most of the art framing for the tri-county area. There was not a task that she could not accomplish.

Shirley lived a vibrant, full life and had unique life experiences, including living in Japan as a young girl and working as a long-haul truck driver in the 1970s. After moving to Alpine, she worked at the Alpine Country Club. For the last 18 years she ran a successful framing business out of her home. Shirley advocated for many local artists and cheered their success.

Her tenacity and generosity were boundless. She was a silent volunteer for so many events in Alpine and added something special to each one; the pecan pies and many delicious desserts at the Kiwanis spaghetti supper and the silent auctions at the FCCBB Annual Dance and at the Big Bend Shooting Foundation banquet are a couple that come to mind. She fiercely loved her family and her community. She loved to dance and laugh; there was NEVER a dull moment with Shirley.

A memorial service for Shirley celebrating a life well lived will be announced at a later date. Donations and memorials can be made in her name to the Family Crisis Center, PO Box 1470, Alpine, TX 79831 or to a charity of your choice.