Marshelle "Shelly" Henry

Marshelle “Shelly” Henry (63) passed away May 7, 2026, after a courageous battle with cancer. 

Shelly was born in Des Moines, IA to Phylliss and Earl Henry. Her formative years were spent running the Boyd neighborhood streets with her sister Ellen, an area in Des Moines known as “Snooseville”, a Danish enclave surrounding Grandview College, and on the Henry century farm in Earlham, IA. After her parents' divorce in the late 1960’s she, her mother and her sister lived on the campus of the University of California, Santa Barbara where Vietnam war protests were a constant. Riots, burning dumpsters and a National Guard presence led her mother to declare the beachside hamlet an unsafe place for young children. The family returned to Iowa, where Shelly eventually graduated from Des Moines’ North High School and the University of Iowa College of Nursing.

Seeking adventure, Shelly moved to Lake Charles, LA where she met Russell Johnson, Jr. and gave birth to a son. Soon after, the young family loaded up a U-Haul and headed to San Francisco, CA where Shelly obtained a Master’s Degree in Nursing at UCSF. During her eight years there, Shelly welcomed three more children. While in SF she also lived through the 1989 San Francisco earthquake and the AIDS pandemic, which had a lasting and profound impact on her life. After graduating from UCSF, Shelly began her nursing career at the U.S. Veterans Administration.

Ready to finally “settle down” Shelly moved her family to Iowa City, IA, where she remained for the next twenty-one years. Although her marriage did not last, Shelly’s greatest happiness was the children produced by the union. She loved being a sports Mom, reading great books out loud together, and watching her four kids take care of one another and her grandchildren. As her children started their own lives, she followed them around the country, moving first to Gulfport, FL and then, upon her retirement from a 30-year VA career, to Oswego, IL. 

Shelly was a very caring person who believed in, and lived, a life of equality, acceptance and compassion. Throughout her life she championed many causes.

Shelly is survived by her mother Phylliss Henry, children Russell (Traci), Dowlin (Zainab Khan), and Phylliss Johnson, as well as grandchildren Monroe, Josie, Rubina, and Musa Johnson. She is also survived by sister Ellen (Mark) Miraldi; and nephew Jacob Miraldi.  Shelly was preceded in death by her father, Earl Henry, her sister, Cindy Kay Henry, and her beloved son, Alex Johnson.  

A private memorial  service for family will held at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to Hope United Church of Christ , 2200 Ridge Avenue, Aurora, IL. 60504. 

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