DeAnne Dolores White Anderson Shelley Obituary (1931 - 2022)

DeAnne passed away peacefully late in the evening on Sunday, November 6th, 2022, in South Jordan, Utah, with loved ones by her side. Deanne had been battling Alzheimer’s Disease for over a decade. Even so, she lived an active, full life, turning 91 years of age five days earlier on November 1st. DeAnne was born in 1931, in Oakland California and was raised in San Leandro. She attended Hayward High School, graduating in 1949 alongside her high school sweetheart and soon-to-be husband, H. Fred Anderson, Jr. They married in 1951 and were together until his untimely death in 1977. They welcomed four children into their family: Janette Anderson Orton (adopted at birth), Joyce Anderson, Connie Mitchell (unofficially but “spiritually” adopted as a teenager) and Ray Anderson (adopted at birth). After Fred’s death, DeAnne married Melvin Thomas Shelley, a native of Arizona and widowed father of five grown children. They remained together until Melvin’s death in 2003. From stitchery to world-travel to community service organizations, DeAnne had numerous hobbies and pursuits in her long life of 91 years. She was full of life, quick to smile, and always on the go, despite the crippling and life-threatening illnesses she endured in her 30’s. DeAnne had a deep love of music and became an accomplished amateur musician, playing the cello in several community orchestras. She became a professional genealogist, taking private clients, teaching at community colleges, and conducting other kinds of community outreach. As part of her years of service within the LDS church, she volunteered for years at the Mesa Family History Center and served three missions in Central and South America with her husband, Melvin, where they established family history centers and trained church leaders and members. DeAnne is survived by her three adult children with Fred Anderson, Jr.: Jan, Joyce, and Ray. She is also survived by her five adult stepchildren from Melvin Shelley: Monte, Tom, Marja, Norman, and Ken. From there, she is survived by a bounty of grandchildren and great-grandchildren. DeAnne is preceded in death by her parents, Raymond Earl White and Leona Dona Leach, her husband H. Fred Anderson, Jr., her husband Melvin Thomas Shelley, and her daughter, Connie Mitchell. DeAnne’s family would like to thank the kind-hearted, dedicated staff at Sagewood at Daybreak Memory Care Unit for the love and care they gave to DeAnne, especially Mindy, who went above and beyond to keep her active and entertained. The family would also like to thank the helpful staff at APlus Hospice. A private memorial and burial service will be held at Mountain View Cemetery in Oakland, California, on Tuesday, November 15th, 2022. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints humanitarian fund.