Selfless, hilarious, loving, beautiful, artistic
Shelbey was physically beautiful and intelligent, with a multitude of creative talents. More importantly, she was kind and selfless. She was always there for people in need, especially those struggling with substance use disorder, because she didn’t want anyone to suffer like she did.
Shelbey loved spending time with her family. She and her sister, Anna, liked adventuring together or just hanging out. Grandma Patty and Shelbey loved to travel both domestically and overseas. Shelbey often reflected on what a special time she had in Ireland with her grandmother. She dearly loved her Uncle Baron and Grandpa Usher, who meant a lot to her. The family spent holidays together–playing charades on Christmas Eve, hunting eggs on Easter, and cooking Thanksgiving dinner. She and her dad, Tim, enjoyed mixed martial arts and going to the races together. When her dad passed away in 2018, it devastated her.
Shelbey was an exceptional artist, effortlessly able to draw anything she saw. She loved music, animals, and all types of crafting. She had beautiful blue eyes, was witty and could make you laugh with little effort. Shelbey was an amazing and giving friend to many, particularly to Bethany and Colton. Bethany and Shelbey went to school together and were like sisters. Colton and Shelbey enjoyed riding around and talking. She spoke about her close friendship with Colton at his funeral after he died in 2016 of an accidental drug overdose/poisoning.
Shelbey’s generosity was boundless. She once saved the life of someone overdosing in a parking lot, and helped to get a friend to treatment, perhaps saving her life as well. Since she was an organ donor, someone in need received her retinas.
Shelbey was a loving and attentive mother to Ares, now six. Andrea remembers how excited Shelbey was to discover Ares’ first snow with him. She also had a long-term relationship and deep abiding love with her fiance’, Jacob. They were inseparable. He has a giving and kind nature, and he is lost without Shelbey by his side.
Shelbey got sober by herself a few times and was working at a medical office, and enrolled in nursing school. She had plans to specialize in neonatal nursing, marry Jacob, and continue building their family life together. “Once her disease took hold, the joy in her spirit slowly left, her mother,” Andrea stated. “She became depressed, anxious and physical ill. She still had a loving heart, but was no longer a happy person.”
Andrea was constantly on edge with worry. She would go into panic mode when she didn’t hear from Shelbey. She feared she was hurt, or worse. “Shelbey was so miserable. I couldn’t fix it, now there is a deep void in my life,” Andrea said.
In March 2023, Andrea’s worst fears became reality. After being sober for several weeks, Shelbey passed away from fentanyl poisoning, from taking what she was told was Zanax. Of course, everything about Shelbey is missed, but especially her laugh, the way she told a story, her smile, her hugs, and her voice saying “I love you, Mama.”
Shelbey’s mother, Andrea Moseley, provided the information for this narrative.
June 12, 1997-March 29, 2023-Age 25
Portrait Artist: Jason Irwin
Narrative Writer: Barbara Francois
