Christopher Richard Shelby

CHRISTOPHER RICHARD SHELBY Christopher Richard Shelby of Newberg, OR, age 56, known as Chris Shelby, passed away on July 5, 2026. Chris was born on March 4, 1970, in Moses Lake, WA to Robert Winn Shelby and June Lorraine Shelby (nee Stadther). In 1973 the family returned to their hometown of Eugene, OR, where Chris attended O’Hare Catholic School for grade school through junior high. He attended North Eugene High School and graduated in 1988. Chris completed his Associate of Applied Science Degree in Technical Drafting at Lane Community College in Eugene. He was accepted to the University of Oregon School of Architecture, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Architecture degree in 1997. Chris began his career in Architecture and Project Management in Eugene, where he met and married the love of his life, Anita Walter Palma. He moved to the Portland area to continue his passion to design and build. Chris was an avid sailor from a very young age. He sailed many lakes and even the Pacific Ocean, beginning with an El Toro sailing pram named “FRED”. He spent many years sailing his beloved high-performance Santana 20 sailboat, “SCOTCH-N-WATER”, on which he introduced his wife and children to the sailing life. The family spent their summers sailing on Fern Ridge Reservoir and camping in Eugene. Chris loved sailing so much that after graduating from the university, he chartered a 35-foot sailboat and sailed the San Juan Islands in Washington by himself to celebrate finishing his degree after so many years of going to school. Chris loved the Oregon Ducks. He was a U of O football season ticket holder from the day he graduated from college. In the 29 years since putting on that green and yellow cap and gown, he only missed two home games. He served on the board of directors for the Oregon Club of Portland and was proud of the Club’s fundraising to support student athletes. Chris also loved fishing and camping with family and friends. He found great joy in visiting our National Parks. He and Anita, along with their black cat Jynx, towed their travel trailer to Olympic National Park, Crater Lake, Yellowstone, the Grand Tetons, and had plans for many more adventures. Chris dedicated most of his career to The Springs Living, a family-owned company committed to creating exceptional senior living communities, where he served as the Vice President of Design and was a partner. As Vice President of Design, Chris played a pivotal role in shaping the vision and development of communities that thousands of seniors now call home. Within The Springs, he was known for his creativity and innovative design principles, but what stood out the most was Chris’s embodiment of the organizational culture to serve and care for others. Chris earned the nickname “Yoda” from his colleagues for his kindness, gentle wisdom, quiet leadership, steady presence, and the thoughtful guidance he brought to every challenge. This empathy and wisdom informed his approach to problem solving and navigating the sheer complexity of designing and building beautiful environments where people live and work. He loved making these incredible communities for older adults come to life. Chris helped guide the company as it grew, having been a part of each of the 24 communities’ designs for the past thirty years, leaving a lasting legacy not only in the communities he helped create but in the countless lives he touched along the way. Chris is survived by his beloved wife Anita Shelby; his son Edward David Shelby of Beaverton, OR; and daughters Jessica Lynn Palma of Newport, OR and Kelsey Nauta of Lake Oswego, OR. In lieu of flowers or donations, friends and family are encouraged to write endearing memories of him and send them to his surviving family members. The details of Chris’s celebration of life will be determined soon.

Christopher Richard Shelby

March 4, 2026 - July 5, 2026