Shirley Gail Bilyeu

               December 28, 1941 — October 6, 2017

Shirley Gail Bilyeu, 75, of Tangent, passed away on October 6, 2017, at Samaritan Albany General Hospital, after medical complications stemming from her battle with cancer.

Shirley was born at Albany General Hospital on December 28, 1941 to Ted and Ruth Volz. She was raised in Philomath and Albany with older brother Ted, and younger siblings Chuck and Debbie. She graduated from Albany Union High School.

Shirley married her high school sweetheart Bob Bilyeu on June 5, 1958, and soon began a family raising their three children Todd, Jeff, and Stacie in North Albany.

She worked multiple jobs outside the home, and she is most remembered as a classroom assistant at Good Shepherd Lutheran preschool, and the Albany Public School District. Most of her students will remember her as, “Mrs. B.”, for she often dressed up as a honey bee during special occasions.

In addition to her work, she was also an active member of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, spent hours volunteering within the community, and gave selflessly to others out of the kindness of her heart. Shirley enjoyed spending her free time gardening, cooking, traveling, exercising, and surrounding herself with family and friends. She is very much loved and will be missed by all those whom she touched throughout her life.

Shirley is preceded in death by her parents; and her older brother, Ted.

Those surviving include her husband Bob of 58 years; sons Todd Bilyeu, Jeff Bilyeu and wife Karen, and daughter Stacie LaFollette; brother, Chuck Volz and wife Jan; sister Debbie Volz and her partner Brad; eight grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.

A celebration of life will take place at 11 a.m. on October 13, 2017 at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 1910 34th Ave., SE, Albany. A light lunch and reception will follow.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to ABC House, Family Tree Relief, or Good Shepherd Lutheran Church.