Lasting Memories

Shirley Jean McKelvey
Feb. 2, 1937-Feb. 7, 2024
Palo Alto, California
Submitted by Joy Apple

Shirley Jean McKelvey was a prolific painter, had an amazing memory, and was an avid reader. She loved to learn about the world and other people, and to encourage and inspire others.

Shirley was born on February 2nd, 1937, Groundhog Day, in Cleveland, Ohio, to Agnes Partin McKelvey and Rance McKelvey. As a child, Shirley and her parents lived in Cleveland, Ohio; and Manchester, Memphis, and Tullahoma, Tennessee. Shirley majored in social studies with an emphasis on history at Peabody College at Vanderbilt University in Nashville. She had several teaching jobs throughout her life. She married John Schlumpberger while living in Key West, Florida, and they had their first child there. They moved to Buffalo, Minnesota, and she had three more children while living in Buffalo. The first of those children died two days after birth. The family moved to Huntsville, Alabama and then to Hollywood, Florida. In 1970 the family moved to Palo Alto, California, where Shirley lived for the rest of her life.

Shirley played tennis for most of her life and also taught tennis. She was a member of the Palo Alto Tennis Club, and remained close friends with many of the tennis club members throughout her life.

Shirley and John divorced in 1972. Shirley got a California Emergency Teaching Credential and took continuing education courses at San Jose State University.

Shirley remarried and then divorced a few years later. Shirley remained single for the rest of her life.

In 1979, following a deep intuition, Shirley started studying art and learning how to draw. She discovered that she loved colors and started learning watercolor painting. She continued painting, mostly watercolor, throughout her life.

Shirley taught art at Escondido School in Palo Alto. She loved teaching art to the students there and talked about it often. She believed it would make their lives better. They would be more complete people, more true to themselves, more open to life, less afraid, more self-confident and happier. In an interview, Shirley said, “When a person is painting, dancing or playing music, or in other words, letting their creativity or life force flow through them, they are really, truly helping the universe to be a better place.”

Shirley was a docent at the Cantor Arts Center Museum at Stanford, CA. She especially loved giving tours of the Rodin Sculpture Garden outside at the museum, and the Papua New Guinea Sculpture Garden near the museum. She liked to engage people in conversations about the art, instead of lecturing.

Shirley has paintings in collections in the United States and Europe. She primarily painted watercolors, but did oil and pastel paintings also. Shirley studied art with many teachers. Her earliest teachers, including Rafaello Dvorjak, Grace Gibson, Linda Lum, and a teacher named Eric, were very important to her. Shirley's art was also influenced by personal spiritual development teachers including Jean Shinoda Bolen, Angeles Arien and Pamela Eakins.

Shirley traveled extensively and painted in most locations.

She believed that everyone could be creative and that it is important to be creative and express yourself. She believed in making your own decisions and following your dreams.

Shirley passed away peacefully from pancreatic cancer on February 7th, 2024.

Shirley is survived by her three adult children: Jay, Joy Apple, and Jill; three adult grandchildren: James Apple, Jeremy Apple, and Jessica Shaker; two great-grandchildren: Lily Shaker and Tristan Shaker; Son-in-law: Steven Apple, and grandson-in-law: Isaac Shaker.