Roberta L. (Morrison) Shelby

IRON MOUNTAIN, Mich. — Roberta L. (Morrison) Shelby, 59, of Bergland and Iron Mountain, died Thursday, Sept. 11, 2014, at Dickinson County Memorial Hospital. She was born on June 9, 1955, the daughter of Ronald and Joan (Nystrom) Morrison. Roberta graduated from New Buffalo High School in 1973 and received her bachelor’s degree from Northern Michigan University.

Roberta was a special education teacher for North Dickinson and Wakefield schools. She also was a substitute teacher for Wakefield and Ironwood schools.

Spending her summers at her family cottage on Lake Gogebic, Roberta became an avid swimmer. Combining her passions of teaching and swimming, she taught a student how to swim and helped him to become a Special Olympics champion.

Roberta also enjoyed reading, writing, rock collecting and sewing. Roberta was a wonderful grandmother “Nanny,” spending time with her grandchildren and granddogs as often as she could.

She married Ken “Bird” Shelby Jr. on Oct. 14, 1989, in Michigan City, Ind.

Roberta is survived by her husband, Ken; three children, Dewey Morrison, of Porterfield, Wis., Allyson (Jim) Tregillis, of Iron Mountain, and Scott Shelby, of Colorado Springs, Colo .; her father, Ronald Morrison Sr., of Bergland; her brother, Ronald Morrison Jr., of Sierra Vista, Ariz .; four sisters, Julianne Sheldon-Salas, of New Buffalo, Lily (Bob) Marx, of Whitehall, Ann Morrison, of Bruce Crossing, and Marilee (Al) Roth, of Bridgman; two grandchildren, Isabelle and Jacob Tregillis; and many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her mother, Joan Morrison.

Private family services will be held at Roberta’s family’s cottage on Lake Gogebic.

Condolences to the family of Roberta L. Shelby may be expressed online at ernashfuneralhomes.com.

The family has entrusted the Erickson-Rochon & Nash Funeral Home with the funeral arrangements.