Leland Thomas Shelford, also known as Sonny or Lee, was born in Seldovia Alaska on June 7th, 1935, to Thomas Leland and Lydia Marie Shelford. Lee passed away peacefully on February 5th, 2025, at his home in Stanwood, Washington surrounded by loved ones. Lee was known for his upbeat can-do attitude toward life and this never shined brighter than in his last ten years of life as he faced many difficult health issues. Wet Macular Degeneration took most of his sight, but he never once grumbled or complained but instead focused on ways to restore his eyesight. When he was diagnosed with stage four lung cancer he never once complained but set his mind on restoring his health. Through chemotherapy, radiation, and immunotherapy his positive attitude never wavered. He fought through blood infections, blood clots in his lungs, pneumonia, Covid 19, seizures and a stroke and never once complained. Right up to the last week of his life he was trying to figure out a way to restore his health.

Lee grew up in Homer, Alaska and it was the hard knock, survival first, resourceful upbringing that created the profound can-do attitude in him. A one room log cabin was his first school with one teacher who taught grades first through eighth. The log cabin didn’t have running water so each morning the older kids would fill a bucket with water from a nearby stream. All the kids drank from this bucket throughout the day using the same ladle. What a great way to boost the immune system.

Lee was an entrepreneur and with his wife Gwen built Sunny Service, Homer’s first two bay gas station, and Pacific Alaskan Seafood which mainly processed crab. Before the Alaska earthquake of 1964 Pacific Alaskan Seafoods plant was located on the outside of the Homer Spit. The Tsunami caused by the earthquake took out the cannery. Fortunately, Lee and Gwen were able to rebuild their plant on leased land located on the new Homer Harbor, a superior location for offloading boats. Lee had a lifelong love of starting businesses or thinking about starting businesses. Right up to the end of his life he was thinking about business ideas. Lee was always looking forward ready for the next adventure.

Lee started his fishing career at age ten, seining on the Wilomalee with his dad and remained in the fishing industry whether salmon fishing, crabbing, owning a cannery or managing a processor until 1999. Lee valued education and held a Deisel Engineer license, an All-Oceans Chief Engineer and All- Oceans Masters license. In the early 1970’s he shifted gears and joined the men crabbing in the Bering Sea. Over the years he skippered many boats including the Nova, Sea Fisher, Stormy Sea, Aleut Pride, Sea Venture, Kodiak Queen, the Katherine and the Lady Fame.

Throughout his fishing years Lee faced many life-or-death situations on the Alaskan seas. At ten he fell overboard with boots on. The boots filled quickly with water pulling him down into the bay. His lungs filled with water and burned. By the grace of God his dad caught him and pulled him back onto the boat. That was the first of many, many, many situations where Lee stared at death and managed to live, Thanks be to God. Such is the life of an Alaskan fisherman.

In retirement, Lee and Gwen made their home in Stanwood, Washington where he enjoyed gardening, driving his beloved Kabota tractor and spending time with family. For his family, there is an enormous hole left by Lee’s passing, but we hold on to the joy he found in each family member. He had a way of making each one of us feel seen and cared about. May we all be inspired by his enthusiasm for the beauty in life and his indomitable spirit.

Lee was preceded in death by his parents, Tom and Lydia Shelford, and sisters Wilma Williams and Aloma White. He is survived by his wife Gwen Shelford, his children Richard, Rhonda, Debora, Scott and Doug, and their respective spouses. Lee has fifteen grandchildren and thirty-four great grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held at Floral Hills Funeral Home in Lynnwood Washington on February 22nd, 2025 at 1 pm.