Thomas Robert Shelby

Every day, before school, I would roll into my father's classroom to wait for school to begin. And everyday I went in there, Mr. Shelby would be in there chatting it up with my old man. It was a good way to pass the early mornings.
I had two classes with Mr. Shelby while he taught at Darrington, and I never hated going to his class. It was the only class, besides my dad's of course, that I really enjoyed. It wasn't really the curriculum that entrigued me, it was the teacher. Mr. Shelby...

Like most of our classmates,I have known Tom most of my life. When I think back at school I remember the two sets of identical twins. I never could tell them apart. To the Shebly family; my prayers are with you. You all, I'm sure have been in my mom's prayer circle.Tom will be greatly missed by us all.

I have known you Tim & Tom since kindergarten and have so many memories of you. I am so thankful that I got to see you at our 20 year reunion it was wonderful.
You found the love of your life, I am so happy that you got to experience that and saddened that the two of you only had so short a time together - it just doesn't seem fair!
I can't believe you are no longer here, and grateful to have known you all of these years. Tim is one of my dearest friends and I have a hard time...

Tom was alway's in a good mood and a real people person from as long as I have known him, which has been since kindergarten. I wish I would have been able to spend more time getting to know him better. But I do know for sure Tom has alway's been a good mark in my book. Tom will be greatly missed by us all. Dawn

Mr. Shelby was a good guy. Nice to all of his students. Believed in people. Will be greatly missed, and remembered by all that knew him.

Mr. Shelby was one of my favorite teachers at Darrington High. I always looked forward to going to his Current World Problems class my senior year, when I really didn't want to be at school. He made school and learning fun. Part of this was due to his great sense of humor. Wether it was making fun of my favorite college basketball team(Kansas Jayhawks), Darrington's basketball team, or his brother, he could always brighten up the cloudiest of days. He inspired me more then he'll ever know. He...

All I really need to know I learned from my little brother

With apologies to Robert Fulgham

Most of what I really need to know was about how to live and what to do and how to be I learned from Tom. Wisdom was not at the top of mountains or at the best know Graduate Schools, but right there in the Stevenson dorm room or around the Sunday dinner table.

·My brother the teacher helped me to understand the importance of being part of a group that does...

“I’m a teacher,” Tom said defiantly with fists clenched and tighten jaw when I suggested he get a second job to supplement his meager wage substituting for the Kalama School District. I pressed him again to consider gainful employment. “I’m a teacher,” he repeated. And there ended the discussion. For Tom and his brother Tim, teaching is a calling and not just a job. Tom knew his calling and no one was about to tell him different. It was his determination, resilience and tenacity that insured...

I was a classmate of Tom's (and Tim too) from kindergarten to graduation, Class of 1983. I was blessed to live in the same neighborhood when I was young.

Many of you know Tom as a Teacher in his adult life but Tom was teaching us things very young. I remember,as young as the 3rd grade going to the Shelby's house and on many occasions there he would be reading encyclopedias and newspapers, I couldn't even say, "encyclopedia" and he was reading them!

I thank Tom...