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Shelley F. Ryan [Image]

Shelley Ford Ryan passed away Thursday January 16th, 2014 with her family at her side.

Shelley was born August 6, 1956 in Carbondale, Illinois to Neil and Jane Ford. She moved to Middleton, Wisconsin as a young girl, she graduated from Middleton High School then she attended and graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She worked at Wisconsin Public Radio for a number of years before finding her true love of plants and the gardening world.  She also found her husband Dennie at WPR whom she married October 12, 1985. She became a Master Gardener and worked at a number of different nurseries in the area before her idea of a televison show for Public TV that would cover the gardening wants, needs and questions of the state of Wisconsin. Please check the Wisconsin Public Television website at www.WPT.org for a beautiful written tribute to ‘THE WISCONSIN GARDENER.”  This amazing program she hosted and produced for 21 years. I must say Shelley loved the plants but she loved the people of the plant world even more. She retired last year for health reasons.

She is survived by her husband Dennie; her son Kably; her parents Neil (Peg) Ford; and Jane (David) Cornwall; a sister Maureen Ford Gregor (Drew); a brother Greg Ford; a nephew and niece; and a grand niece; also her much loved pets Moxley and Rowan.

There will be a private family funeral service Saturday January 25th, 2014 at the Springdale Lutheran church with Pastor Jeff Jacobs officiating; and a luncheon will follow, burial will be in the German Valley Cemetery.

There will be a public memorial at a later date. In lieu of flowers and plants donations may be made to an account established at the Heartland Credit Union in the name of Kably Ford Ryan Educational Fund. The family would like to thank everyone at the 8 Atrium, Meriter Hospital; and the Agrace Hospice Care Center Fitchburg. Dear, Dear Shelley I will love you forever – Dennie. The Ellestad Camacho Funeral Home, 500 N 8th St., Mt. Horeb, WI is serving the family.
www.ellestadfuneralhome.com
608-437-5077