Michele Hellmann (Shelley), 51 of Alma, Michigan passed away on September 18, 2025 at home. She
was born in Alma, MI on July 14, 1974, to Donald Curtis and Karen Curtis.
After graduating from Alma High School as salutatorian in 1992, she progressed to Ferris State University
and later completed her Doctorate of Optometry at the Michigan College of Optometry. She practiced
optometry for Anderson Eye Associates in Mount Pleasant, MI before moving to Wisconsin and working
at Wisconsin Vision.
On May 4, 2002, Shelley married Steven Hellmann. In 2004, she moved to Paris, Texas to raise her three
children, choosing to be a full-time mother versus continuing her optometry career.
She took pride in her homeschool curriculum, which focused on building lifelong learners. Her analytical
and sharp-witted mindset later propelled her into the stock trading world and earned her a feature in the
New York Times. In life, she thought through the implications of every step before taking it, adopting in all
things the approach she swore for her medical degree, “first do no harm.” She gave 100% of herself to
everything she put her hand towards, and she prided herself on the logical, reasonable, and open-minded
approach with which she tackled the problems she faced. She didn’t believe in luck, and she chose hard
work and skill over talent every time and expected the same from those around her.
Shelley is survived by her husband of twenty-three years, Steven Hellmann residing in Paris, TX; children
Kareyn Hellmann, Katrina Hellmann and Kaitlyn Hellmann of Paris, TX; father Don Curtis of Alma, MI; and
her sister Amanda Curtis of Alma, MI. She is also survived by nieces and nephews and their families.
Shelley’s family will receive friends for visitation from 11am until 1pm on Saturday, September 27th at the
Alma United Methodist Church in Alma, Michigan, the church she grew up in and was married in. The
service will immediately follow at 1pm with Reverend Lori Sykes officiating. The interment will be at
Alma’s Riverside Cemetery following the service, where she will be laid to rest near her mother’s
gravesite.
To leave a message or tribute for the family please visit www.brighthollandfuneralhome.com
