March 31, 1966 ~ December 21, 2024 (age 58)
Shelly Jo (Ivy) Quarles was born on March 31, 1966 in Garden Grove, California to Sally (Beyer) Lanik, and Kenneth Ivy. She was the second born of 6 children and spent most of her childhood acting like it. As a kid, she and her older sister, Latisha, spent lots of time getting in trouble or looking for it. Anyone who knew Shelly as a child was impressed with her quick wit and enthusiasm. She loved compliments and being told she had done well at anything. Of course as one of the oldest, that came in handy for her mom when it came to getting things done. She went through a phase where she didn’t prefer her name, Shelly Jo, and instead told people that her name was Michelle Joy… in hindsight, both names embody her quite well. She participated in a few beauty pageants and was crowned Miss Anza. One year upon announcing her as the winner the host said, “Oh boy, the roof is about to blow off this place”. She was truly admired by many in her small town.
In 1984 she graduated from high school with plans to attend college for interior design. Shelly married her high school sweetheart and love of her life (up to that point) Jeff Northern in December of ‘84. She gave birth to their son Justin Daniel Northern, the new love of her life, several months later.
Becoming a mother at 19 shifted her perspective of what it meant to truly love and be loved. Justin consistently helped teach her that throughout her life.
Shelly moved around a lot in the next 10 years; living in over 6 California towns, sunbathing poolside more often than not, working more waitressing jobs than you could count, and having (a few) undeserving boyfriends along the way. In 1996 She followed her mom’s trail to Texas and moved to Stephenville. She began working at Jake and Dorthy’s where she met the next luckiest guy in the world, Ronnie Quarles. Together they had Taylor Renee Quarles. She lived on 100 acres they’d purchased for sixty thousand dollars and Shelly’s life as a home-making, sunset-loving, long-walk-flower-picking, home-schooling mom began. At the age of 34 she accepted Christ as her savior and every moment of her life since then was different. Shelly lived the next 24 years FOR Jesus. Teaching, trusting, and loving the truth of the Gospel. She forgave, reconciled, redeemed, and loved. She poured her heart into knowing Christ and learning who she was in his eyes, then taught that to anyone who was eager to listen. She participated in women’s ministry at Cottonwood Baptist Church for more than 15 years. She overcame alcoholism and shame and walked in worthiness and sobriety. She owned and ran a cafe from 2002-2016, which she took so much pride & joy in. If you were ever a customer there you can remember she always had music blaring in the kitchen. Her CD collection was one to take notes from.
She started and maintained her own cleaning business from 2010-2024 where she built many relationships and impacted more. Shelly was creative and funny and she really loved good food and good prices. So many would recall her saying “All my favorite memories have food in them” or “It was only $5.00!”
She also really loved people. Countless people could call her a friend and mean it; regardless of the time it had been since seeing or talking to her. She knew how to connect and that’s just one reason she will be so, so dearly remembered. Her personality is hard to put into a short biography, but she could drive the heck out of a pretend race car, belt out some unhinged notes in a hairbrush-microphone, and dance the silliest and freest and truest dance-moves you could imagine.
When she became a nana, her world really lit up. All the best parts of her came out 10-fold and she was able to be the truest, silliest version of herself with her grandkids. Carter Sean Northern made her Nana in 2010, followed by Natalie Yvonne Northern in 2012, and June Everly Northern in 2017. While they lived states away, anyone close to Shelly knew those kids were the apple(s) of her eye. She took the truest pride in her legacy as Nana. In 2020 her daughter bore Jolee May Leamons, Ivy-Layne Collins Leamons in 2023, and Meran James Leamons in 2024.
Shelly had a special and unique bond with each child. As her first grand baby and her only grandson, she and Carter took to each other in a deeply meaningful way. On a hike near the Oregon Coast one year as they hunted for salamanders, Nana told Carter “Life goes by too quickly to always be in a hurry, slow down and take in the beauty of this” that moment has remained with Carter over the years, and especially now. One of Jolee’s favorite memories with her nana is the special “language” they would talk in which was more or less complete gibberish, but invoked the giggles unlike any other thing they did.
Shelly’s identity changed with the seasons of her life, but the truest and deepest parts of her remained constant. Determined, empathetic, careful and loving. Genuine, smart and honestly funny. Not a single person who knew her would doubt that she is absolutely rejoicing with The Father. Eating at the banquet table, dancing with the bridegroom, running through the fields of heavens flowers, splashing in the living waters, and sunbathing in the glory of God.
Shelly’s life on earth came to an end on Saturday, December 21, 2024 at sunrise. She woke up on a new day beholding Jesus- her very deepest, truest, realest, oldest love.
She is survived by her children and grandchildren mentioned above as well as her mother Sally Beyer Lanik, sisters Latisha Beatty, Carrie Carter, Lorraine Lemke, and Carly Rozzo. She is preceded in death by her brother, Michael Lemke and several of her very dear friends.
Celebration Service to be held in honor of her birthday on March 29, 2025 at Cottonwood Baptist Church at 10am with a potluck lunch to follow.
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