Shanley E. Kerls Brown

Dec. 24, 1965-March 11, 2017

Homer resident, Mrs. Shanley Elizabeth Kerls Brown died Saturday, March 11, 2017, at South Peninsula Hospital in Homer. She was 52. Her family said she passed away expectantly.

A memorial service is 1 p.m. Sunday, March 26, 2017, at the West Homer Elementary Gymnasium, immediately followed by a potluck reception.

Shanley Elizabeth Kerls was born Dec. 24, 1965, to Thomas David Kerls and Mary Elaine Francis Kerls in Athens, Texas.

Born and raised in East Texas, Shanley attended Cross Roads Elementary and graduated with honors in 1983 from Athens High School. She attended Trinity Valley Junior College and transferred to University of Texas to graduate with a bachelor of science in elementary education and a minor in art.

At the very early age of 12, Shanley joined the local Athens Amateur Radio club and became an active member in radio communications and Sky-Warn. Sky-Warn was the amateur radio operator’s form of communication when power and phone access were down during severe weather. Tracking tornadoes and following gulf hurricanes, Shanley would communicate to other HAM operators in areas of limited power, giving directions for safe zones for members of the communities to retreat from harm. Storm-chasing became a favorite hobby of hers throughout the years.

Advocating for children became an interest to Shanley while working in the education field. She became a Court Appointed Child Advocate (CASA) for local children in the area. Her desire to help children continued forward even in Alaska, as she became active in the Big Brothers and Big Sisters in Homer. Shanley took every opportunity to create a safe place for children, and helped guide many kids to a better path.

Shanley taught elementary education in both Mabank and Crandall, Texas. In Homer, Shanley became a private teacher and tutor through the Homer Connections School. Shanley enjoyed teaching elementary children through high school age, and bonded well with all her students.

Education was one part of Shanley’s life, but the basics of those skills allowed her to teach others as well. Shanley founded the local Homer Genealogy Group that met at the Homer library. She taught classes on research and history of family lineage to create a link to the past. She taught classes for amateur radio so that others could understand the importance of communication. Shanley even taught herself to be healthier and happier, by creating a blog for locals in Homer, called “Kicking carbs to the curb.”

Shanley was raised in a Christian home and attended church on a regular basis. She often taught Sunday school to the younger children, teaching scripture and fellowship. Shanley was active in the Calvary Chapel Church in Homer.

Shanley is survived by her husband, Patrick Brown; seven step-children, Mishael Brown of San Diego, Calif., BenJamin Brown of Poway, Calif., China Gerhart in Italy, Anastasia Brown of Homer, Alaska, Ian Brown of Big Lake, Alaska, Brittany Karabel of Valparaiso, Ind., and Ilya Brown of Plover, Wisc.; grandchildren, Caleb, Angelique, Nevaeh, Warrior, Lilah; her sisters and brothers, Holley Hightower and Kevin Lloyd of Homer, Cara Bonsal of Athens, Texas, and Cheron and Brad Dyer of Athens, Texas; aunt and uncles, Michael and Sheila Kerls of Corpus Christi, Texas, Gene and Pat Kerls of Cleveland, Texas, and Jeff and Dellana Jamnik of Arlington, Texas; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

She was preceded in death by paternal grandparents Elmer and Virginia Kerls, maternal grandparents James and Ruby Francis, parents Tom and Mary Kerls, brother-in-law Wayne Hightower, and uncle and aunts Jerry and Patty Bonsal and Charlie Kerls.

Arrangements were made by Homer Funeral Home &Cremation Services. Please visit or sign her online guestbook at AlaskanFuneral.com.