Kathleen "Kathy" Marion (Gulley) Shea

July 21, 1952 – May 7, 2022

Our beloved wife, mom and nana, Kathy Shea was unexpectedly called home to the lord on May 7, 2022. Kathy was born July 21, 1952, in Butte, Montana to Kenneth and Lee (Lapalm) Gulley and Butte was where her roots stayed for the entirety of her beautiful, caring and giving life. Growing up on Locust Street, Kathy was proud to let you know she was a Greeley Owl during her grade school years and she later graduated from Butte High School in 1970.

Shortly after high school, she met the love of her life, John "Rollo" Shea, Jr. Rollo knew better than to "let this one get away," and the two were married on July 22, 1972. In their, just shy of 50 years of marriage, the two slowly built our forever "home" on the lower west side of Butte. In 1975, Kathy gave birth to her daughter Tara (Shea) Schleeman and her son Matthew followed not long after in 1977. Tara and her family reside in Butte, MT and Matt lives in Billings, MT. Kathy, despite her later career path, was not a fan of debt and refused to live beyond her means. So, the Shea clan was close from the get-go with their first several years together, spent living in a one-bedroom house on Locust Street. During this time, Rollo and his dad, John, Sr. built the house on Steel Street, that Kathy spent her entire life making the place we all call home. She was never one to brag but was very proud of the fact that at no point did her home ever have a mortgage against it.

Early in life, Kathy worked various places including Jack's Pharamcy, Newbro Drug and the Safeway Foods Corporate office. After Safeway closed its offices in Butte, she began working as a teller at the Safeway Federal Credit Union on January 12, 1984. The Credit Union would soon become her life's work. Safeway FCU eventually became Heritage Federal Credit union and is now operated under Rocky Mountain Credit Unions of Monana. After starting as teller in 1984, 30 years later she retired as President and CEO of the credit union on July 31, 2014. During her tenure as president of the credit union, Kathy served on the Montana Credit Union League Board from 2005-2014, and as the chair of the board from 2009-2011 when she represented Montana's credit unions at the Credit Union National Association's 75 ^th anniversary in Estes Park, Colorado. During Kathy's time on the Montana Credit Union League Board, the League went through a major governance overhaul and created a self-funded health insurance trust to benefit credit union employees. Kathy was a fierce advocate for the not-for-profit, cooperative finance model that credit unions represent and she was loved by all who served with her. Following her retirement in 2014, Kathy also served an additional two years on the Rocky Mountain Credit Union Board of Directors.

While Credit Union President may have been her job title, her true calling in life was her role as a wife, mother, grandmother, sister and friend. Despite the endless headaches and sleepless nights they undoubtedly caused her, her love and support for Rollo, Tara and Matt was unwavering and will endure until we all hopefully see her again. The role of "Nana," however…….well that was where Kathy really shined. If you wanted to see that smile that never failed to light up a room, all you had to do was ask her about Kenna, Kade or Koda. Her grandkids were her pride and joy and the light of her life, and they all miss her terribly already.

Never one to shy away from adventure or a good party for that matter, Kathy was always up to try something new. From baking and decorating cakes to ceramics and the seasonal wreaths she loved to make for friends and family, her taste and artistic side was what always made her home feel warm and welcoming. If you put her in a raft with a spinning road in her hand, you had better be prepared to drag her out of it, because she would fish until her arm fell off. Traveling to Alaska to go fishing with her brother Joe was without question one of her favorite trips in her lifetime.

Kathy was our north star, our rock and the glue that held everything together and we are all a little lost right now without her. However, she showed us the right way to do things, the right way to treat people and the right way to live a giving and purposeful life. When these clouds eventually break, that north star will be brighter than ever and continue to show us the way.

Preceding Kathy in death were her parents Lee and Kenneth Gulley; mother and father-in-law, Maxine Carlin and John Shea, Sr.; her baby brother Joe Gulley, who she loved to the moon and back; Niece Erin Gulley and brother-in-law Patrick Burton.

She is survived by her husband of 49 years, Rollo Shea; her son Matt Shea; daughter and son-in-law Tara and Doug Schleeman; Grandchildren Kenna, Kade and Koda Schleeman; Step-Grandchildren Drew Schleeman and Nicole Tiensvold; Brothers Dan and David Gulley and their spouses and children; Sister -in-law Rosalie Burton; Nephews: Andy (Barb)Burton, Joe Burton (Shonna Walund) and John (Holly) Burton, along with numerous great nieces, great nephews and dozens of cousins whom she all loved, dearly.

Kathy was the only daughter in her family but had life-long friends who were like sisters to her. We know she is resting peacefully with the lord, but we also know she's probably just a little bit ticked off that she is going to miss Thursday girl's night this week. Shirley Burby, Peggy Dunston, Maureen Evans, Mary Lou Farren, Sheila O'Mara, Linda Thomas, and Fran Tregida, along with Kathy, your volleyball prowess was by no means the stuff of legend, but your friendship and support of one another all these years certainly is. To the Vincent and Farren Families, Kathy's hard times in life would have been much more difficult and the good times, a heck of lot less fun without all of you in it. Thank you to everyone who has reached out, called, and stopped by over the past several days. It is overwhelming and a true testament to the life Kathy lived.

Cremation has taken place. Visitation will begin and 10:00 a.m. Friday, May 13 at St. Ann's church. Funeral service will follow at 11:00 a.m. A reception following the services will take place at the Knights of Columbus Hall. In lieu of flowers, Kathy's family asks that a donation in her name be made to the Butte Food Bank, Butte Rescue Mission or a charity of your choice.