Shelley Lynne (Boyd) Bartling was born February 6, 1950 in Fairbury, NE. and died after a short stay at Gardenside Care Center in Fairbury on June 21, 2026, of complications from Alzheimer’s Disease and an extremely rare auto immune disease, Stiff Man Syndrome. The courage and fortitude she displayed the last years of her life was the grand finale to a life of living, loving and serving others.

She was born to James “Red” and Jean (Harlan) Boyd and shared a happy childhood with her brother, Mark. She went to church, Sunday School and was baptized in the Baptist Church in Fairbury in 1960, often mentioning attending with Grandma Jesse Harlan, her beloved and favorite grandma.

She attended East Ward Elementary School in Fairbury and graduated from Fairbury High School in 1968. She attended Fairbury Jr. College for one year and earned an RN degree from Des Moines Area Community College, Ankeny, Iowa. She returned to Fairbury and worked in the Fairbury hospital. She married Randy Bartling in November, 1981. They moved to Alliance, NE. where she worked as nursing director of surgery and then finished her career in Home Health in Alliance.

She and Randy dreamed of building a house in the Fairbury area after his retirement and that is what they did on land south of Gilead, NE. Leaving her friends of many years in Alliance was difficult but she soon embraced old and new friends in the Hebron, Gilead and Fairbury area and was quickly known for her acts of kindness which always included delivering food!

That’s the back story -- Shelley’s life in a nutshell. But she was so much bigger and better than these few paragraphs. She was incredibly intelligent; learning was easy for her. She was a voracious reader and kept journals of favorite quotes from her readings which she would often share with the hundreds of people she exchanged correspondences with. She loved movies (one of her favorites was “The Big Chill”) and music – she was an accomplished pianist—always listening to music and would go to concerts. She could crochet the most beautiful, intricate linens, but was especially known for crocheting last names and then framing them to give as gifts.

She was a life guard in her youth and was an extremely skilled golfer. For many years, she and her golfing friends from Alliance would go on an annual golf trip—full up with golfing and fun! Her love of animals, especially dogs, was a lifelong passion. She had a keen sense of humor, loved hearing a good story and loved to prank. She was opinionated but not judgmental; relentless but forgiving; and the best friend any person could ever have!

In conclusion, her greatest quality was her tenacity in the face of hardship and her strength, courage and determination to not seek sympathy or attention of any kind throughout her life. But most importantly, she was grounded in a strong faith in Jesus Christ, her Lord and Savior; and she knew He was with her always. She loved listening to a local church service every Sunday and liked the organist! Jesus has called one of the very best into His eternal arms in glory!

Shelley is survived by her husband, Randy Bartling; son, Tony Bartling, Logansport, IN; daughter, Jessica (Chris) Kliment, Hickman, NE; grandchildren, AJ (Tiffany) Bartling, Wylie Bartling, Hunter Bartling, Logansport, IN; Grace (Alfred) Wang, Lincoln, NE, Ally Kliment, Hickman, NE; brother, Mark (Jan) Boyd, Clearfield, PA; nieces, nephews, cousins and a host of friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Red and Jean Boyd; mother-in-law Lucille (Beu) Meier ; infant grandson, Christopher Kliment.

John 3:16 – For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.

Memorial Services will be held on Friday, June 26th at 11:00 am at the First United Presbyterian Church in Fairbury. Gerdes-Meyer Funeral Home is assisting with arrangements. www.gerdesmeyerfh.com