Shirley Ann Ekey, of Ashland, passed away Friday January 20, 2017 at Kingston of Ashland following a sudden Illness.
She was born in Ashland and was the daughter of Delbert and Portia (nee Arnold) Gribben. She was a 1970 graduate of Mapleton High School and has resided in Orange Township all of her life.
Following High School, Shirley received training from the Mansfield General Hospital and became a Certified Radiologist and continued to work at Mansfield General Hospital for a few years. She then attended the North Central Ohio School of Massage Therapy and became a licensed massage therapist. She worked as a massage therapist while continuing her advance training in Massage Therapy. She was honored to have been selected, along with other massage therapists, to travel to Russia as part of a cultural exchange program. She and her husband Jon opened Ashland Massage Therapy on East Main Street in Ashland and have operated it for over 25 years. The couple also owned and operated Tucson Tanning on Claremont for many years.
Shirley was a die-hard Mapleton Mountie supporter, fan and Booster Club Member. For many years she acted as the trainer for the Mountie sports program giving of her time and talent. She sponsored many of the schools activities as well as local car shows and area little league teams. She was also a faithful member of the Nankin Community Church where she served on the nominating committee and the staff-parish committee and helped with the funeral dinners.
Anyone who knew Shirley knows that she was a very giving person. She would always put others before herself and was a tremendous loving caregiver to others.
She enjoyed traveling and spending time in Florida, watching football and NASCAR, and had attended the races at Bristol for many years and spending time with her family.
On August 18, 1972 Shirley was married to Jon J. Ekey who survives her. Also surviving are two daughters, Kristina (Gavin) White and Ashley (B.J.) Ritter both of Ashland; one son, Brice (Jen) Ekey of Ashland; four grandchildren, Brooklyn and Madisen White, Cooper Ritter and Carter Ekey; Her parents, Delbert and Portia Gribben of Ashland; two sisters, Sheila Gribben and Sharon (Tim) Myers of Ashland and two brothers, James (Pam) Gribben of Ashland and Bill (Ellen) Gribben of Jeromesville; several nieces and nephews and her brother-in-law and sister-in-law, David & Sue Ekey of Jacksonville, FL.
Funeral services will be held Friday, January 27, 2017 at 11:00 a.m. at the Nankin Community Church with the Rev. Jake Heskett officiating. Burial will follow in the Nankin Cemetery. Friends may visit with the family on Thursday January 26, 2017 from 3:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Denbow-Gasche Funeral Home. .
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Nankin Community Church, 795 St. RT. 302 Ashland, Ohio 44805 or to the Mapleton High School Athletic Boosters, 1 Mountie Way, Ashland, Ohio 44805.
For those not able to attend, expressions of sympathy may be left to the family by visiting denbowfh.com
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