Wilford "Bud" Shanley

Wilford H. "Bud" “Roggie” Shanley, 87, of Petoskey stepped over into another garden on July 12, 2018 at Boulder Park Terrace in Charlevoix. The family is exceedingly grateful to all the Boulder staff.

 He was born on October 8, 1930 in Petoskey, eldest child of Wilford J and Fiance Shanley. He grew up on the family dairy farm, learning well the lessons of hard work. In spite of professing in later years to hating the fact that any day being spent away from the farm came to an abrupt halt when the cows needed to be milked, the love of land, animals and farming were deep in his blood. He was happiest when being a gentleman farmer. The Shanley Dairy was sold in 1946.

 After graduating from Petoskey High School in 1948, Bud served in the Navy aboard the USS Saipan. After leaving the Navy, he worked as a draftsman in the engineering department at Bendix in South Bend, IN. Returning to Petoskey; he met up with his high school sweetheart, Joyce Grigsby. He worked with his father for State Farm Insurance and opened a pet shop, Bud's Tropicals. He and Joyce married on September 19, 1959. Shortly thereafter, he sold the pet shop and they purchased a 50 acre farm where they raised chickens, pigs, flowers, vegetables and children, but never any cows. Bud loved to decompress from the pressures of the insurance business by farming, driving his tractor and feeding the wild birds.

  Bud and Joyce were both active in the Petoskey United Methodist Church and were founding members of the Petoskey Farmers’ Market. Bud enjoyed listening to all types of music, working on complicated jigsaw puzzles and playing cards, especially cribbage. He served on the Bear Creek Township board and with several local organizations. He continued his career in insurance, owning Shanley Insurance Agency. Prior to retirement, he partnered with Jerry VanTreese and they formed the Shanley-VanTreese Insurance Agency. He was a much respected member of Petoskey's business community. Bud and Joyce then became "snowbirds", enjoying the winter months in Las Cruces, New Mexico. In 2007, Joyce preceded him in death.

 Also predeceased are his parents, sisters Beverly (John) Mish and Nadine Sheldon, brothers-in-law Paul Sheldon and Gordon Grigsby, an infant daughter, sons Timothy, Kevin (Sandra) and Robin (Helene), daughter-in-law Mary VanDyke-Shanley, as well as best friends Norm Foster and Louie Rasmussen. Bud is survived by brothers Victor (Carol) of Conway and Gary (Lynda) of Alanson, daughters Melanie (Peter) Zenor-Kelleher of Martinsburg, WV and Siiri Beth

(Patrick) Avery of Charlevoix, granddaughters Kathryn (Hollis) Washburne-Nelson residing in China, Melissa (Christian) Shanley-Case of Petoskey and Cerissa (Chris) Zenor-Clark of Philadelphia, PA, great granddaughter Juliet Weinberg of Petoskey.

A service will be held 11:00 am July 18th at the Petoskey United Methodist Church. The family will receive guests beginning at 9:30 am until time of service. The service will be led by Dr. James Mitchum. Interment will be in Greenwood Cemetery with a luncheon to follow at the church. The family is in the care of Stone Funeral Home. 

Memorials are suggested to the Petoskey Regional Audubon Society or MSU Extension of Emmet County. 

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