Patrick Wayne Shelley

March 10, 1934 - July 23, 2014

Patrick Shelley, 80, of Albany died Wednesday at Samaritan Evergreen Hospice House, with his loving wife by his side.

Born in Medford, one of seven children of Manuel Jr. and Marian (Alves) Shelley, Patrick spent most of his childhood in California, including Yreka, Chico, Oakland and Sacramento, before entering the U.S. Army in 1955.

Patrick married Peggy Bridgham in 1956, and upon his discharge from the Army, they returned to Sacramento. Patrick and Peggy later divorced. Patrick shared his life with Barbara DeClue from 1976 to 1984, until she moved to North Carolina to be nearer to family.

Patrick worked for Aerojet, Dalmo Victor, Bay Technical and then Hewlett-Packard Co. in 1972, all in California, before moving to Albany in 1978 as a mechanical engineer for HP. He was instrumental and on the ground floor of the development of the HP inkjet cartridge. He retired from HP in 1989 at the age of 55, but went back as a contract employee with Hewlett-Packard from 1991 to 1996, retiring at the age of 62.

Pat was a motorcycle enthusiast his whole life. He loved to tinker on anything from vacuum cleaners to lawn tractors. He loved anything mechanical and felt blessed to be in his profession. He entertained his many friends with his jokes and stories about his colorful, wonderful life.

Patrick married Karen (Lull) Johnson on July 10, 1993, in Corvallis. She survives in Albany.

Also surviving are children Bill of Santa Rosa, California, and Katy and Nick of Sacramento; Karen's sons, Randy and Russ Johnson of Des Moines, Iowa; grandchildren Jessica McKenzie, Ben Duncan, Christine Shelley, Caddye Weesner and Patrick Shelley; great-grandson Jacob Patrick Duncan; sisters Edith Chapin of Rocklin, California, Pearl Barker of Merlin and Gloria Lewis of Orland, California; and brother David Shelley of Penngrove, California.

Patrick was preceded in death by his parents; sister Maisie McKeown; and brother Richard "Bud."

He not only had a wonderful close family; Pat considered all of his friends, family also.

An open house is set for 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 10, at the Shelley residence.

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to Samaritan Evergreen Hospice House or the Albany Carousel in care of Fisher Funeral Home, 306 Washington St. S.W., Albany, OR 97321.

Online condolences for the family can be posted at www.fisherfuneralhome.com.