Earl F. Shelley, Orange County News Executive

Earl F. Shelley, an Orange County career newspaper executive, died April 30 after a long illness, his family said. He was 67.

Shelley’s career in print media began in 1958 when he served as an advertising salesman for the Los Angeles Times. In 1988, he retired from Golden West Publishing in Mission Viejo.

In 1970, he founded the News-Times in Placentia, now a part of the Highlander chain. He also owned the Tides and Times in Laguna Beach from 1979 to 1982. He served as advertising director of the Irvine World News from 1974 to 1977.

Shelly lived in Placentia from 1954 to 1979, where he was a member of the Placentia Recreation and Parks board for seven years. He also served on the Placentia Unified School District Board of Trustees for four years and the board of directors of the Placentia Boys Club for 16 years.

After moving to Newport Beach in 1979, Shelly served on the board of directors of the Bayside Village Assn. He also taught Sunday school at the Placentia Presbyterian Church.

He graduated from Rutgers University School of Journalism in New Jersey in 1947.

Shelley is survived by his wife, Nell, of Newport Beach; his children, Maggie Visnaw of Reno, Nev., Patrick Shelley of Watsonville, Barbara Brown of Berryville, Ark., Noreen Shelley of Newport Beach and Tony Shelly of Orange. He also leaves seven grandchildren.

Shelley was born Feb. 29, 1924, in Tyrone, Pa.

Memorial services will be held May 11 at 11 a.m. at the South Side Club Room, DeAnza Bayside Village, 300 E. Coast Highway, Newport Beach. Family members requested that contributions be made to the American Cancer Society in lieu of flowers.