Shirley Ann Mahlum passed away November 16, 2012 at Providence Regional Medical Center Everett at the age of 74 after a 4-year battle against chronic lymphatic leukemia. She was born on November 29, 1937 at home to Anne and Steve Novak in Sultan, WA.

Granddaughter Amy Mahlum, age 10, wrote this about her Grandma Shirley: “Shirley Mahlum was a sweet, loving, and hard-working person. She was a wife, mother of two, grandmother of two, aunt, great-aunt, sister, daughter, cousin and friend. She grew up in Sultan, WA and graduated as a valedictorian in the class of 1956 from Sultan Union High School. She had worked at The General Adjustment Bureau to put her husband, Don, through college. She also worked more than 21 years as the head secretary at the Marysville Middle School. Shirley enjoyed traveling to visit loved ones, going to plays, and going to music and art festivals. Shirley’s favorite color was turquoise, and favorite flowers were roses and impatiens. She liked to eat at The Tulalip Resort and she loved to play the card game “Golf”. Shirley thought that scarves, bracelets, earrings, rings, necklaces and nice-looking fashionable clothing and shoes were important to a daily lifestyle. Shirley was a thoughtful person that remembered people’s birthdays. She loved the holidays, but especially Christmas, because it brought the whole entire family together. Shirley had dedicated four and a half years of her life trying to take care of herself and eating and being healthy as much as possible. But she wouldn’t be where she was, and she wouldn’t be as healthy and happy, without her husband Don.”

At her passing, husband Don said, “It is amazing what God can create – that God can create such a wonderful person. Shirley shed her light upon everyone she met. She had such a wonderful presence.”

She was preceded in death by her parents, Anne and Steve Novak.

Shirley leaves behind her husband Don, of 55 years, sons Todd (Joelle) Mahlum of Marysville, WA and Mitch Mahlum of Toluca Lake, CA; granddaughters Anny and Amy Mahlum of Marysville, WA; sister Arlene (Bob) Coffman of Portland, ME; aunt Rosie Fonville of Wenatchee, WA, nieces and nephews and numerous relatives in the Novak and Mahlum family as well as many close friends.

Shirley’s family wants to express their thanks and gratefulness to the team of caregivers at Providence and The Everett Clinic who cared for her during her final days. The family also wants to express their gratitude for harpist Jeri Howe, Sister Mary, and Reverend Terry Kyllo of St. Philip’s Episcopal Church in Marysville, WA.

Shirley will be laid to rest at Marysville Cemetery in a private graveside ceremony. The family is having a Celebration of Life for Shirley on December 9, 2012, 1:00 p.m. at Tulalip Hotel in Tulalip, WA.

Memorials may be made to Providence Regional Cancer Partnership or a cancer research charity of your choice in Shirley’s memory.