Brenda Shelley, 46

Brenda Rosa (Jones) Shelley, 46, died Monday, Sept. 29, 2003, after a seven-year battle with Scleroderma and Raynaud's phenomenon, which caused total kidney failure.

Brenda had been awaiting a kidney transplant from her brother, James A. Jones, III, who moved to Mountain Home from Denver, Colo., only a week before his sister's death.

A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m., this Friday, Oct. 3, 2003, under the direction of Summers Funeral Homes-McMurtrey Chapel. Brenda's family and friends also will toast to her memory at the establishment of her dear friend, Cal Miller, at 210 N. Main Street, Mountain Home, this Saturday, Oct. 4, beginning at 1 p.m.

On May 30, 1957, Brenda was born to James Arnold Jones, Jr. and Rosalie Unruh Jones in Enid, Okla., and grew up in the Colorado Springs area.

Brenda then moved to New Mexico, where she married Duke Daniell.

The light of Brenda's life and her only child, Jessica Rose Daniell, was born Aug. 4, 1980, in Ruidoso, N.M. She and Duke were later divorce, and Brenda moved to Arizona, where she met and married Abijah "Bije" Shelley. The couple relocated to Mountain Home in 1984, where Brenda resided for the remainder of her life.

Brenda was a "Jill-of-all-Trades," supporting her family in various employment fields. However, it was her art that was her true calling, her family said. "She was especially talented at seeing the possible -- turning everyday objects into beautiful pieces. Many local residents remember when Brenda's fanciful paintings covered the windows of downtown shops and offices each holiday season."

Brenda was first diagnosed with Raynaud's phenomenon, which is often an early sign of Scieroderma, almost seven years ago. Brenda was in constant pain over most of the past seven years, and in complete kidney failure for the past five. "But with the help of her loving family and loyal friends, she endured this hellish roller-coaster ride with a no-nonsense style and an often grim sense of humor," her family said.

Still a teenager when Brenda was first diagnosed, Jessica had always been her mother's primary reason for survival, but the birth of her grandson, Taylor Dale Rogers, on Nov. 7, 200o, during a dramatic early-winter snowstorm, greatly renewed Brenda's resolve to keep fighting, her family said. However, that same snowstorm caused a major setback in Brenda's condition when she slipped in an icy parking lot on the way to visit the new baby. Brenda sustained a subdural hernatoma, but it was initially misdiagnosed. A few days later, she was rushed into life-saving emergency surgery, and eventually made substantial recovery from the head injury.

The recent birth of the newest family member, granddaughter lzibella Rose Rogers, on Aug. 20, 2003, combined with signs that the Scleroderma was in remission, renewed Brenda's hope, her family said. Her son-in-law, Jebediah, recently transferred from the University of Idaho to Boise State University in order to move his family closer to "Nana." James passed his compatibility testing as Brenda's kidney donor, and had just moved to his sister's hometown to continue with pre-surgical testing. "Sadly, the devastating disease stopped Brenda's heart before the transplant could occur."

Brenda is survived by: her daughter and son-in-law, Jessica and Jeb Rogers, her two grandchildren; her father, James A. Jones, Jr., of Sun City, Ariz.; her mother, Rosalie Jones, and sister, Paula Mae Brill, both of Wickenburg, Ariz.; and her brothers, James, recently of Mountain Home, and Tracy Lynn Jones, of Brae, Calif..

She was preceded in death by her grandparents, Edna May Unruh and Lyn Floyd.

Both the cause and cure of Scleroderma are still unknown, but various treatments are being developed. Research funds for this devastating disease are desperately needed, her family said.

Donations may be made in Brenda's memory to the Scleroderma Research Foundation, 2320 Bath Street, Suite 307, Santa Barbara, CA 93105. For further information, call the Foundation toll-free at 1-800-722-HOPE (4673)