Jonathan Rice Shelley

Jonathan "Jon" Rice Shelley passed away at 54 years young on December 20, 2023. He left this world peacefully at home surrounded by his family after a hard-fought, yet brief, battle with cancer.
Jon was a loyal, loving, wonderful husband and father. He grew up at Lake Lanier, where he fell in love with fishing. He later attended and graduated from the University of Georgia, where he met the love of his life, Michelle. Once they were married, they moved to the Gulf Coast, where he was a business owner for many years. Jon loved saltwater fishing and boating (especially during snapper season), hunting with his buddies, and watching his children grow up and flourish. He loved his family more than anything! He was a very quiet advocate for the underdog, always helping those when he could. He had a passion for catching and eating seafood! He enjoyed all of these activities with his family and close friends. Jon was also very mechanically inclined and was appreciated for all his talents by his numerous friends. Jon could just about fix anything! Jon was also the biggest DAWG fan there is – he enjoyed watching the UGA football games with his family! Jon will be greatly missed by his family and his friends.
Jon is survived by his wife of 29 years, Michelle Shelley; son, Rice Shelley of Cambridge, MA; daughter, Madison Shelley Amerson (Dr. Kyle Amerson) of Clearwater, FL; parents, Grady & Becky Shelley of Foley, AL; brother, Ben (Claire) Shelley of Cherry Log, GA; brother-in-law – Robert (Dawn) Petrasek of Terre Haute, IN; sister-in-law, Mary (Ed) Petrasek Brockhaus of Jupiter, FL; nephew, Hayden Rosenthal St. Charles, MO; mother-in-law, Rosalynn Petrasek of St. Louis, MO; and father-in-law, Bob Petrasek – Hallandale Beach, FL.
A Celebration of Life will be held Saturday, January 13, 2024, at 11:00 AM, at the Malbis Historic Nursey and Community Center, 10145 US-90, Daphne, AL 36526. Jon has requested a true "Celebration of Life" and would like everyone to wear their favorite sports team jersey/shirt with casual pants/jeans-no formal attire. Following the service, there will be a shrimp boil at the Malbis Historic Nursery.
In lieu of flowers, please perform an act of kindness in Jon's memory, whether it is helping someone carry groceries, a person or family in financial need, a veteran who needs financial or physical assistance, or just someone you know that would be blessed by a few extra dollars. Jon's heart always went out to the underdogs who worked hard to improve their lives but still needed that little bit of extra help or encouragement.
Expressions of condolence for the family may be made at www.hughesfh.com. Hughes Funeral Home, 26209 Pollard Road, Daphne, AL, is assisting the family.