Shelby Kaleen Lions Obituary (2024)

Our beloved daughter, granddaughter, sister, niece, cousin, and friend, Shelby Kaleen Lions, passed away on Monday morning, March 18, 2024. What doesnt show in the pictures of our beautiful girl, is her involvement with drugs and the devastating toll they took on Shelby and her family, ultimately resulting in her accidental loss of life due to a drug overdose. Despite the love and support of her family, and every opportunity given to Shelby to help her recover from her struggles with addiction, she did not acknowledge what those around her could see happening. She thought she could stop anytime, but Fentanyl doesnt discriminate on whose life it ruins. Although her death comes as a shock for everyone, we would like to focus on all the positives that Shelby brought in her short life. Shelby was quick-witted, much like her "Nana" Lions (Joyce Lions). They both had a sharp sense of humor and a zest for giving a good "zinger." Shelby had two real loves in her life, horses, and Mustang cars. She was named after the Shelby Mustang, and her father was told that it was the only "Shelby" hed ever be able to afford. Little did he know that her love of horses would end up costing much more! Shelby was a wonderful equestrian and started riding at age four. She was a member of 4-H, Pony Club, and Central Washington Hunter/Jumper club. She loved riding with Lisa Shane at Absolute Hunter/Jumpers in Issaquah, Washington, and gained so much experience with her mentor, Judith McInnis, of Yakima, Washington. So many people helped her on her path to riding, Samantha Hansen, Rae Early, Ellen Roy, Rae Dietrich, and many more. Some of Shelbys best memories were doing Pony Club rallies with her friends, 4-H shows, showing horses at the Central Washington Fair, and just hanging out at the barn. Those are memories that she cherished. Shelby spent her late teen years in Missouri and made many friends there as well. She loved to go boating, river floating, and 4 wheeling with her "boys." Shelby loved her dad and was truly a "daddys girl." She, her dad, and her brother, Rhett, spent countless hours fixing cars, going to car shows, drag races, and rod runs. She was a member of the Sun Country Mustang Club and owned a 1968 Mustang that was given to her when she was three years old. There were so many people who helped her with her cars, and the time they gave to Shelby will not be forgotten. Tony Landis, Jim Devine, Larry Riegel, you were instrumental in Shelbys car life and she was so appreciative of each one of you. In addition to cars and horses, Shelby loved being outdoors and was a true country girl. She made close friends in the UTV circles and she absolutely LOVED riding side-by-sides. She spent hours in the wilderness, mushroom hunting and searching for Morel mushrooms. She enjoyed reading and learning about the early history of the Gifford Pinchot and Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest. Shelby was so gifted and talented, there is not nearly enough room to write everything amazing about her. We hope she knew how loved and adored she was. Shelby is survived by her mother, Kaleen Van Pelt (Daniel), her father, Robert Lions, her brother, Rhett Lions, grandparents, Albert and DAnne Weeks, aunts and uncles, Cindy and Tommy Carroll, Bryan and Kristi Weeks, Scott and Stacey Weeks, Susan Gruner, Rita and Steve Babcock, Ray and Julie Lions, and numerous cousins, great-aunts and uncles, and friends she thought of as family. If you have a family member struggling with addiction, please get them help sooner rather than later. Dont make the same mistake we made. We will forever be grateful for the time we got to have with Shelby and the impact she made in all of our lives. Thank you to Rhea, at Shaw & Sons for assisting us through this time. A Celebration of Life will be held at the Leisure Hills Community Center in Union Gap, Washington, on May 31, 2024, from 6-8:00pm. There will also be a Zoom link posted on Shelbys Shaw & Sons page for those who cant be there in person. Shaw & Sons Funeral Home is caring for the family. Memories and condolences can be shared at www.shawandsons.com.