Shirley May Roskelley

Shirley May Johnson was born 22-May-1931 in Henefer Utah to Willard Nels Johnson and Nellie May Jones. She was the second of five children, Carl Johnson, Joyce Alger, Lynda Johnson, and Marilyn Johnson. At the request and invitation of an uncle, the family moved to California in 1936. They initially moved around frequently, following work opportunities until settling in Antioch, CA. Many of the friends that Shirley made in Antioch were to become lifelong friends that remained dear to her even after her family moved to Walnut Creek, CA. Shirley was a lifelong member of The Church Of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. She briefly attended Brigham Young University, although shortly thereafter followed her desire to serve as a missionary for the church, and was sent to Montana serving as the mission secretary in the mission home. She often told stories from her mission days, recalling jokes she and other missionaries would play on each other, the cold Montana winters, and how it seemed every family had a dog that would follow the missionaries as they went from house to house until they had quite a large group of dogs all barking and howling as they followed her and her companion down the street. After returning from her church mission she met her sweet heart, Vance Roskelley and they were Married and sealed for time and all eternity in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints Los Angeles temple, then settling down in Concord, CA. She loved to tell the story of how Vance asked her father for permission to marry her while Vance flew her father in a small airplane. The door had not been shut completely and the while in flight it came loose and opened on her fathers side at which he played up the incident by acting scared that Vance would throw him from the plane if he did not allow the marriage. This clearly shows where Shirley got her sense of humor. Together Shirley and Vance had four children, Gayle, Philip, Laurie, and Lanette. Shirley has kept herself busy involved in projects or multiple church groups such as Relief Society, and the Young Womens Group. Shirley also supported her children and grand-children in Sports, Scouting, Band, Girl Scouts, Girls Camp, etc As her children grew she had more time to devote to church sponsored activities including, "Family History Center" in Concord and "Daughters of the Utah Pioneers". She was devoted and had great passion in these two organizations. She made many friends and all were very dear to her. Shirley and Vance made a decision for Shirley to stay home and raise her children, and use her talents as a seamstress to make wedding and bridesmaid dresses, marching band uniforms and various other special clothing. In this way Shirley was able to make sure her children had the opportunity for dance and music lessons. She was well known for making Home-Made Bread and rolls, everyone loved them so much she was often making double or triple batches so she could take bread to the neighbors. Education was important to Mom. While working at Diablo Valley College she was determined to go back to school and earn her Associates Degree while her own children were teenagers. And later as we started graduating from high school she worked for years at the County Tax Assessors office. Mom LOVED with all her heart her grandchildren Peter Brown, Jarom Brown, Darren Brown, Jaymie Brown Campbell, Jesse Brown, Collin Brown, Kevin Brown, Jacob Roskelley, Rachel Roskelley, Jason Roskelley, Paul Fischer, Tyson Fischer, and Leah Fischer and her great Grandchildren Seth, Mckenna, Evertte, and Carter Brown; Emma and Milton Brown; William Brown, and Andrew Fischer. We know she will be spending her time in heaven with great grandchildren until it is their time to be born. Mom loved to sing. She often would randomly sing songs throughout the house as to mood struck her. Even singing to her dog, How Much Is That Doggie In The Window while trying to get the dog to bark on que. Her unique sense of humor is remembered in all the various pranks she loved to play on missionaries serving in the Concord area, Easter Sunday wearing candy lipstick with her daughters, In 2004 while mom was fighting cancer her husband Vance past away, and she lost her most fervent supporter, her eternal companion, her love. She has missed Vance every day since. Her children know that Shirley is overjoyed to be with Vance once again and joining him in playing a family game, Last Tag. All of the children have continued to feel the presence of their father in their daily lives and know they will also feel their mothers presence as well. We love you Mom..... Visitation Saturday, August 20, 2016 10:00 am-10:50 am LDS Concord Blvd. Chapel 3700 Concord Blvd. Concord CA 94519 Funeral Service Saturday, August 20, 2016 11:00 am LDS Concord Blvd. Chapel 3700 Concord Blvd. Concord CA 94519