Shirley Kort Danehey

Shirley “Shelly” Kort Danehey, beloved wife and best friend of husband Delain (Dan), passed away May 17, 2013 in Fountain Hills after a courageous battle with brain cancer.

She was born in Hastings, Neb. on Nov. 13, 1935, the only child of the late Frances and Irvin Kort. She grew up working on the family farm and attended Hastings College.

Shelly and Dan met in 1955 before Dan’s senior year at the University of Nebraska. She was then working in an office management capacity. Fortunate for Dan, Shelly had not married when he came to his senses in 1959. A friend once told Dan that the day he married Shelly was the luckiest day of his life. The friend was right.

Shelly joined Dan in Dover, Del. while he completed his tour as a navigator in the Air Force.

In 1960 they moved to the Chicago area where Shelly worked several years as an executive secretary at Sunbeam Corp. She never knew a stranger. She helped Dan immensely in building relationships with clients and associates during his career with Ernst & Young.

Dan retired in 1991 and Shelly and Dan moved to Fountain Hills in 1994.

Shelly had many skills including cooking, sewing, decorating and gardening. She could build, repair or assemble almost anything.

She enjoyed people, fine food, travel and the arts. She was involved in many activities at their church.

Shelly loved her daughter, Kathy, and her son-in-law, Dr. Jim Eichman of Kalamazoo, Mich.; and her son, David, of Mesa. She adored and was very proud of her grandchildren, Jack, Gillian, Elise and Aidan Eichman.

A memorial service will be held at St. Barnabas on the Desert in Scottsdale at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, May 28. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Hospice of the Valley, 1510 E. Flower St., Phoenix, AZ 85014 (www.hov.org).