Timothy Joel Shadley was born in 1975 to John and Suzanne Shadley in Lisle Illinois, the youngest of 5 siblings. The family moved to Tulsa Oklahoma in 1977 where Tim lived until he went to college. Tim played sports into high school and excelled in music, playing in All-State ensembles throughout his high school career. In addition to playing sports, Tim was active in Boy Scouts, ultimately achieving Eagle rank. But Tim's true love was jazz, and he relished performing in Jazz Band and participating in other jazz workshops and festivals at every opportunity during his time in school.
Tim attended North Texas University where he studied jazz and then returned to his birth state to finish his Bachelor of Music degree at Northern Illinois University, graduating in 2001.
After college, Tim lived in Tulsa again for a few years where he started building his career as a musician, performing jazz on trombone and piano.
Tim moved to Aspen for a time where he had his introduction to the hospitality business and enjoyed snowboarding and off-roading in his Jeep along with working as a freelance musician.
Tim eventually returned to Tulsa and renewed his efforts to build his career there, where he found himself performing on piano with various salsa bands, and eventually leading one. Tim's connection with salsa music introduced him to the woman he eventually married - Mariangel Esser. Tim and Mariangel were married in May 2011, but divorced in 2014.
Over the years, Tim worked to build collaborations between jazz, hospitality, visual arts, and dance. Tim started the Jam'Bassadors program at the Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame, eventually taking an award-winning group to the finals of the Charles Mingus "Let My Children Hear" contest in New York in 2013. In that same year, Tim was named a member of the "Tulsa 40" by the Tulsa Business & Legal News, recognizing him for his positive impact on the community. Tim worked with visual arts organizations, organized salsa dance events, assembled bands to perform in local music festivals, and played gigs all over town. He was a dedicated and passionate jazz professional and a champion of the arts community.
Tim was also a dog lover, and rescued multiple dogs from shelters, giving them a safe home and an abundance of love.
Tim Shadley departed this life on May 3rd 2023, at Clarehouse Hospice Home in Tulsa Oklahoma. He is survived by his father John Shadley, and his 4 siblings: Jeff Shadley and wife Ronnamarie Jensen, Julie Koble and husband Mark Koble, Jennifer Whitmire and husband Rick Whitmire, and Michael Shadley.
Viewing will be Noon - 8 p.m. Sunday the 7th, with the family greeting friends from 3-5, at Moore's Southlawn, 9350 E. 51st Street. The funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m., Monday at the Moore Southlawn Chapel.
Flowers are welcome, or please consider making a donation to Clarehouse (
www.clarehouse.org
).
Moore Funeral Home Southlawn 918-663-2233.