Sheila Kathleen Scully

It is with deep sadness that we announce the death of Sheila Kathleen Scully on Monday, May 19, 2014, a beautiful spring day in Missoula.

Sheila was born on June 14, 1950, in Great Falls to Tom and Mary Scully. For most of her elementary years she lived in Great Falls and attended Saint Gerard's Elementary School. This marked the beginning of Sheila's love for Montana and the West. After high school and college in California, she returned to Montana in 1972 with an old truck full of hippie girlfriends and a dream of living in Missoula. In 1974, Sheila gave birth to her only daughter Rye, and this solidified her life as a long-term Missoulian.

Sheila was a free spirit, always choosing her own path. She had a great love of nature, animals and long-lasting friendships. She always had a trusted dog at her side, and a garden of beautiful hollyhocks, sunflowers and cosmos. Wherever Sheila found herself, she was surrounded by creative friends and interesting people. Later in life one of her greatest joys was spending time with her grandson Nelson.

Sheila is survived by her daughter Rye (Brent) Palen and grandson, Nelson Palen of Missoula; parents Tom and Mary Scully of Bloomington, Minnesota; three sisters, Maggie (Mike) Deutsch of Fargo, North Dakota, Nan (Lynn) Scully-Collins, Howard of Colorado and Liz (Eddie) Scully of Watervliet, Michigan, along with many nieces and nephews.

A prayer service will be held at St. Francis Xavier Church of Missoula on June 12 at 4 p.m. Donations can be made in Sheila's memory to Five Valleys Land Trust
Read Sheila Scully's Obituary and Guestbook on www.missoulafuneralhomes.com.