Obituary of Kelly Ann Spencer

1959-2023

Kelly Spencer, beloved wife, sister, mother, grandmother and great grandmother died October 27, 2023, of cancer at the age of 64 in Springfield, Oregon. Her husband and children were with her when she passed.

Kelly was born in Chicago, Illinois to Patrick and Lillian Shanahan. When Kelly was 8 years old her family moved to La Farge, Wisconsin where they established a family farm. Kelly grew up and attended all her school years in La Farge. In High School she was on the school’s forensics team, she acted in school plays, and she excelled in academics. Kelly moved to Eugene, Oregon in 1979 and secured a position with the State Judicial Department and worked in the custody referee’s office as a pre-trial release officer. Eventually Kelly became the Director of Pretrial Services in Lane County and enhanced that office size and standing as one of the model pretrial programs in the country. She was sought after by other counties in different states to analyze their programs with the goal of enhancing their pre-trial services. Kelly established professional relationships with judges, attorneys and law enforcement agencies in lane county and elsewhere and was considered the consummate professional and authority in her field.

In 2000 Kelly retired from the Judicial Department and moved to Riverside, California with her husband where she attended Citrus College and obtained her certifications in wholistic Massage Therapy and as an Esthetician. She opened her own day spa and along with her daughter Shannon and additional employees established an award-winning business. Kelly had always had a goal to complete her higher education and in March of 2019 she achieved her bachelor’s degree and became an ordained minister.

In 2021 Kelly moved with her husband back to Oregon and on October 14th of that year was diagnosed with terminal cancer.

Kelly loved to travel with her husband and family and visited Ireland, home of her ancestry, many places in the Caribbean and many beautiful places in the United States. Kelly was also the consummate artist and decorator. She and her husband enjoyed remodeling and decorating their homes in Riverside and Oregon and her children and grandchildren always viewed the Riverside home as their home base.

Kelly was the most giving, loving and kind person you would ever want to know. Her life passion was to be a philanthropist and care for and give to those who were in need. She loved her family and friends and she loved and cared about all animals. Her little dogs were the light of her life, and they shadowed her everywhere she went.

Kelly and her husband Bud were partners and married for 27 years and their marriage was magical.

Kelly was preceded in death by her father and mother and is survived by her husband Bud Spencer, her children Jeremy Phinney, Shannon (Manuel) Cordoza, Tyler (Alli) Spencer and Megan Spencer, her siblings Dawn (Mike) Melvin, Patty (Jamie) Vanourney, Jimmy Shanahan, Bob Shanahan and Ken Shanahan, her grandchildren Alex (Ashley) Dory, Madisun, Jacob, Dakota and Lowik and her great grandchild Amber.

Funeral services are to be held at Musgroves Mortuary 225 South Danebo Avenue Eugene 97402 on Friday November 3rd at 3:00. A catered gathering will be held at the family home in Springfield, Oregon directly after the memorial. Directions to the family home will be available at the memorial or contact her husband.