07/11/2025
It is with great sadness we announce the passing of Shirley Wiley (Mrs B), mother of Jeff Wiley (co-owner with Rik Scott)
Mom helped found Mr. B’s Bookery with My Dad, Bill Wiley, in 1998. The post continues from Jeff.
This post amounts to a Facebook Memorial post. If you want to leave condolences, I will consider a love or like of the post one of those. What I would prefer in the comments is either an experience with Mom you would like to share, or a question about Mom you would like me to respond to. This will help you and I process her passing.
Please, rather than dropping off flowers, give them to someone you love. If you want to send cards, send them to Jeff Wiley, PO Box 1802, Kingston WA 98346. It would be great if you donated to Sharenet, our local food bank, at sharenetfoodbank.org
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Shirley (Mom hereafter) passed in her sleep on Tuesday, July 8th. She had been on oxygen at home since a bout with pneumonia damaged her lungs in March. Her death as a surprise, but not unexpected.
Mom was.... That is hard to say. I have lived in her home since 2008. I have taken care of her since my dad passed in 2014. We gradually transitioned from two adults living independently to me taking care of most aspects of both our lives.
She was the kindest person I have known. Here unwritten mantra was “Be Kind”. She adopted a perspective from one of her fellow teachers, who’d say “What would be helpful?” in addressing a problem or situation.
She was also plagued by depression, worry, and a regret from her past that was so strong it affected her health.
Mom was born in Dickinson North Dakota in 1936. She was a farm girl. She met and married my Dad, Bill Wiley, in 1956.
Mom was a reading teacher at the height of her calling. She could teach any kid to read, using a toolbox of methods honed through years of experience. She was a true artist in the teaching of reading. She started teaching in a one-room school house in North Dakota, and retired from teaching after a career in the Seattle and Everett Public Schools.
Mom and Dad moved to Kingston in 1998, after living in Snohomish County starting in 1971. They built a home at Jefferson Beach. They founded Mr B’s Bookery, a retirement vision my Dad had that Mom went along with. At the bookstore, Mr. B would take the morning (Mom didn’t do mornings), and Mrs. B would take the afternoons. He had “his” people (Customers), and Mom had “her” people.
Mr B’s was sold to Rik Scott and myself in 2013, due to my Dad’s failing health. Mom didn’t spend any time at the Store (changed to Kingston Bookery) after it was sold (Been there, done that.) Her daily activity was reading, reading, and reading. Almost always mystery-suspense. She spent some time at Redeemer United Methodist Church while being a longtime member at Bothell United Methodist church from her “mainland” life.
She was a beautifully imperfect person who, like all of us, perfect. She was…
