Edria Lee Shuey's Obituary
Edria Lee Shuey
October 20, 1945 – May 26, 2026
Edria Lee Shuey, 80, a woman whose life was defined by an extraordinary spirit of giving, friendliness, and devotion to her family, passed away peacefully in her sleep on the morning of May 26, 2026, at Rose Linn Care Center in West Linn, Oregon.
Edria was born in San Antonio, Texas, on October 20, 1945, to Clarence Benjamin Bennett and Ara Elouise Godwin Bennett. It was in Texas where she met the love of her life, Paul Howard Shuey, who was stationed there while serving in the U.S. Army. After getting engaged, they moved to California and were married in the Los Angeles LDS Temple in November 1965. Together in California, they began their family, welcoming their daughter, Sandra, in Torrance in 1966. In 1972, they found a permanent home in Oregon City, Oregon, where their son, David, was born two years later.
Edria was instantly recognizable by her warm, outgoing personality and her absolute curiosity about people. She was legendary for her friendliness toward everyone she met — frequently breaking the ice with new acquaintances by genuinely asking, “Where are you from?” Her innocence, love, and sincere interest in others meant she never met a stranger.
But she kept her friends and her church closest to her heart, greeting every soul with a wink and a smile.
Edria was deeply devoted to her faith and active in her church community, having been baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1963 in her San Antonio hometown. A woman of profound faith who loved the Lord, she found immense comfort and strength in her beliefs, particularly when she faced the painful loss of her nurse mother, Ara, to kidney failure in 1964. Through her years of devotion, Edria built a fiercely loyal "sisterhood" of lifelong friends, including cherished bonds that reached all the way back to 1972 in the original Oregon City Ward. In the early 2000s, she served as a Cub Scout den leader — a role many would say was her absolute favorite. In her later years, she was a devoted volunteer and greeter at the Portland Oregon Temple. The family has been deeply comforted by the many friends and caregivers who have reached out to share endearing stories of her naturally sweet and gentle nature during her recent transition to nursing care.
A deeply creative soul, Edria poured her heart into working with her hands. Photography, artisan cake-making, and floral arrangements were her true passions. For years, she poured her energy into crafting prom corsages and wedding flowers, eventually turning her talent into a business called "... and a Pink Carnation." While others saw the beautiful final pieces, her family knew the endless all-nighters she spent toiling away with wire, green foam, and fresh flowers. She rarely made a profit, but to Edria, it was never about the money — it was entirely for the love of creating and the joy of giving to others. Her thoughtful touch extended to every family milestone, annual tennis banquets, church happenings, and school events, which she routinely blessed with elaborate photo displays and custom-themed cakes.
Edria had a profound love for animals, notably her childhood dogs and her German Shepherd companion Max, who was her absolute shadow for 15 years. In her time in Oregon City, she was caretaker of six dogs (and one cat). Even as dementia began to cloud her mind later in life, it could never steal her inherently bright spirit. She stubbornly held onto her most precious memories — keeping on her kitchen table a treasured pile of old family cards, funeral programs, graduation announcements, and photos.
Edria is survived by her devoted husband of 60 years, Paul Shuey; her son, David Shuey; her beloved grandchildren, Jonathan, Shelby, and Emily; her great-grandchild, Alexandria; and her son-in-law, Timothy Griffith. She was preceded in death by her beloved daughter, Sandra Gayle Shuey Griffith, who passed away in 2021, and her parents.
Edria’s framed artwork, photography, and treasured creative portfolios will be on display at her memorial service for all to remember the beauty she brought into the world. The service will be held Wednesday, June 3, at 12:00 p.m. at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (14340 Donovan Road, Oregon City, Oregon), with a burial service following at Willamette National Cemetery in Portland, Oregon.
Please follow the service via Zoom streaming if you are not able to attend in person.
https://zoom.us/j/8138607083?pwd=Q2ZEdDZpWFI3WTJkSlZ5KzFYYlpBZz09&omn=92165160634
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