Remembering Shelley Denise Fugate Hieatt
Shelley had a generous heart, a quick wit, and a deep love for her family and friends. She never hesitated to share what was on her mind, and those who knew her wouldn’t have wanted her any other way. She believed deeply in right and wrong, cared about the people around her, and had a gift for delivering a perfectly timed comment that could make anyone laugh. Shelley had a way of drawing people in. She was simply one of those rare people who was easy to love.
Shelley was born in Danville, Illinois, and moved to Phoenix, Arizona, as a young child in 1960, where she spent the rest of her life. She was raised by her mother, Joan (nee Roberston) and her stepfather, Edward Fugate a veteran she loved dearly, and whose memory remained important to her throughout her life.
In December 1974, Shelley married her husband, Allen Hieatt, at the Los Angeles LDS Temple. Together, they built a life and a marriage that lasted nearly 52 years, filled with family, memories, and everyday moments to treasure. When her children reached school age, Shelley began a career that included customer service, travel, and medical supplies before eventually retiring.
Shelley also had a deep and abiding love of history. She was fascinated by the people and events that shaped the world, and her knowledge made conversations with her all the more interesting.
Shelley loved good food, going out to eat, sharing recipes, and, perhaps most of all, having someone else do the cooking. She loved going out to eat with Allen, exploring new and interesting food. Her son, Arron, and son-in-law, Brendan, were frequent recipients of her culinary recommendations. Sharing a recipe or offering a suggestion was one of her many ways of staying connected with the people she loved. She also enjoyed cross-stitch and made many of her children’s clothes when they were young, leaving behind a little piece of her care in the things she created.
An enthusiastic traveler, Shelley knew that the journey was part of the adventure. She and Allen loved travelling in their RV. She especially loved San Diego any chance she could get, and treasured trips with her daughter, Amy, to places near and far, including Colorado, Illinois, New York, Washington, and Canada. There was always an unexpected stop or a little detour, because the best memories came from moments she never planned.
Shelley also had her own special way of keeping in touch. She regularly sent family and friends recipes, interesting articles, and amusing stories through social media. She called it “pebbling,” inspired by the way penguins offer little pebbles to those they care about. Each message was a small offering and a quiet way of saying, “I saw this and thought of you.” It was one of the many ways Shelley reminded people that they were in her thoughts and in her heart.
Above all else, Shelley loved her family. She was the beloved wife of Allen, and a devoted mother to Arron and Amy. She gave them room to grow into themselves while always caring deeply about their lives. She worried about them, cheered for them, and took immense pride in the people they became, and loved them without reservation. She also held a deep love for her father, Edward, and her brother, Richard. Family mattered to Shelley, and the bonds she shared with those she loved were woven into the very fabric of her life.
Those who knew Shelley will remember her generosity, her laughter, her strong convictions, her love of history, and her remarkable ability to be sentimental and sarcastic in the very same conversation. She could make people laugh when they least expected it, speak her mind without hesitation, and make others feel welcome and understood. Her warmth stayed with people long after a conversation ended.
Shelley would almost certainly have had something to say about this tribute. It would probably have been funny, perhaps a little inappropriate, and delivered with a perfectly straight face. She might have corrected a detail, offered an opinion, and then made everyone laugh. And then she would have made sure you knew what mattered most. She loved you.
Shelley passed away on October 7, 2026, at the age of 72. She is lovingly remembered by her husband, Allen; her son, Arron, and his husband, Brendan; her daughter, Amy; and her brother, Richard.
May those who loved Shelley trust the journey ahead, even through the sorrow, knowing that the love she gave will continue to guide them. Her memory will travel with them—in the stories they tell, the laughter they share, the kindness they offer, and the quiet moments when they feel her near.
A celebration at Shelley’s life will be held October 17, 2026 in Queen Creek Arizona, followed by a burial at Smithfield cemetery in Kentucky. Additional details will be shared with family and friends.