SHELLY KAY TABAR
October 2, 1963 – February 22, 2015
Beloved wife, daughter, sister, stepmother, aunt and friend passed peacefully after a long battle with breast cancer. Shelly was born in Royal Oak, Michigan but moved at an early age to the Saint Petersburg beaches, Florida, thus always considering herself as a southern girl. She attended Seminole High School, graduating in 1981. Shelly was the editor of the school newspaper, was a court member of the homecoming celebration and was also a teen model. She graduated from the University of South Florida with a major in journalism in 1983, which included overseas study in Spain. After graduation, she volunteered for the Peace Corps serving from 1984 to 1987 in Honduras. She remained in Honduras for the next two years working as a journalist for the English language newspaper in Tegucigalpa. Upon her return, she enlisted in the Florida National Guard, eventually attending Officer Candidate School and being commission in the Military Intelligence branch. Shelly remained in the reserve components for twenty-two years and was called to active duty after the terrorist attacks of 9/11, serving at U.S. Special Operations Command as a counter-intelligence / counter-terrorism and force protection analyst. She completed her military career with the rank of Major. Shelly achieved a life long dream of working for the Department of Defense, the Defense Intelligence Agency, starting in 2002 until her passing. Throughout her busy life, she obtained Masters Degrees from Troy State University and American University in International Service. She likewise attended the Joint Military Intelligence College’s post-graduate program and the Inter-American Defense College, a War College at Fort McNair, Washington, D.C. Shelly was fluent in Spanish and had a working knowledge of French and Arabic. Shelly had a zest for travel, visiting numerous countries in Europe, North Africa, Latin America and Israel. She leaves behind her husband, Colonel (retired) William Kay of Alexandria, VA, her mother, Betty Jones of Bradenton, Florida, her father, Harold Tabar of Ocala, Florida, her brother, Brett Tabar of Saint Petersburg, FL, two stepchildren, several nieces and numerous family members who loved her. Internment will be at Arlington National Cemetery at a later date. In lieu of flowers, Shelly requests that a donation be made to the Special Operations Warrior Foundation, the Wounded Warrior Foundation or the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria.
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