Chestina Bolton Shahroody

Dear beloved friends and family,

It is with a weighted heart that my siblings and I share that our mother, Chestina Tina Lou Bolton Shahroody passed from our living realm early morning, Wednesday, January the 4th, 2023.  

Her creativity, ingenuity, love for nature and all animals great and small will be sorely missed.  Not only was she an appreciator of art and an artist herself, she encouraged creativity and artistic expression  in others. I do not believe I would have gotten this far in my passion for the arts without her.

From an early age, Tina was friend to creatures and respecter of those that truly warranted it.  Many would remember her dogs that she raised, including the fence jumping German Shepard she frequently accounted for when faced with his misdeeds. She knew how to make amends and maintain relationships. This connection followed her throughout life, leading and mentoring others to become passionate about fancy rats, mice, hamsters, and reptiles. 

Her love for horses also ran fluidly through her spirit and enigmatic mind. To be tender, feel the energy of an animal ten times her size, and at the same time, maintaining a balance of understanding and control was inspirational to many. Tina’s pursuit in Dressage riding, competing, and teaching communicated her elevated ability to subtly guide a horse’s gate and direction. Plus, she always looked “top notch” in her coat with tails, long black boots, and queenly top hat.

I always love sharing with my students and new friends that my mother dedicated her studies in college in the field of Entomology. The look on their faces is surprise and amazement. Truly bugs are that which haunt many folks’ nightmares. With her, she revealed their practicality, dissipating our family’s fear in these tiny creatures.  Who knew you could order ladybugs through the mail to protect your roses from pests?  Who knew that her admiration and conservation of the Swallowtail Butterfly was so similar to the path she walked.  Swallowtails are able to mimic other species in order to avoid being eaten. Tina possessed the graceful ability to float fluidly with many groups and communities.

Her wishes for when her life was nearing its end, was to pass peacefully and return to the nature that she was birthed from. Her wishes were for a small private memorial. The laying of her ashes will be a private moment with her immediate family however, it was her desire for those who wished to connect, have comfort and closure, to visit her in the mountains of Santa Cruz beneath the tree in which she has been laid to rest.

Her ashes will be laid to rest in the Santa Cruz Mountains at a Better Place Forest Memorial later in spring or early summer when the weather is gentler (and the roads are passable). When it is done please know you are welcome and encouraged to visit. 

Thank you, truly for your kind words, continuous love, and connecting with us during these tender times.  If you feel inspired, some of the charities she was so dedicated and passionate about were The Southern Poverty Law Center, and The Jean Kvamme Center for Adaptive Riding. Truly, gifting to anyone in her name would echo the joy she always had with giving to others.  

Zane, Shawnee, and I will keep you all updated on her page with more information and specific location of her site.  Additionally, feel welcome to reach out to me on this platform, cell phone, and or mail.  Thank you all for your continuous love and warmth.