Angels Camp, CA…Michelle “Shell” Ponte, 22, of Angels Camp passed away at her home in Angels Camp. She was currently attending college working towards her degree in nursing, following in her Grandma Jane Ponte’s footsteps. Her goal was to work in obstetrics. Michelle was a 2011 graduate of Bret Harte High School where she was involved in high school yearbook and took stats for several football seasons. She also enjoyed community service activities and was instrumental in reaching out to young voters in her mother’s election to the Board of Supervisors in 2012.

She loved the ranching life and helped her dad with the cattle, vineyard, operating the backhoe, and most recently planting a winter and summer vegetable garden. Some of her favorites included music of all kinds, following football and basketball, photography, boating, shopping, adventures to San Francisco, and trips to the ocean. She enjoyed traveling and was fortunate to visit Washington DC, Boston and the surrounding areas while in high school. Michelle was know to highlight the “positive” in people and situations and would often provide support to friends in need. She also enjoyed helping the elderly and her “play” time with many children who were a big part of her life. Her smile and laughter left a lasting impression on those who knew her.

Michelle is survived by her parents Dave and Debbie Ponte and sister Nicole Ponte of Angels Camp; her high school sweetheart Robert Brucks of Angels Camp; paternal grandfather Wendell Ponte of Angels Camp; maternal grandmother Linda (Jim) Kelley of Sutter Creek; maternal grandfather Ed (Gwen) Stokes of Angels Camp; aunt Helen Ponte of Angels Camp; uncle Rob (Michelle) Stokes of Vale, Oregon; cousins Kyle and Erin Lehrer of Angels Camp; and Rylie and Teagan Stokes of Vale, Oregon. She was preceded in death by her sister Kathryn Bowie Ponte (1991); aunt Donna (Stokes) Lehrer (2010) and grandmother Jane Ponte (2013)

In lieu of flowers and to provide a lasting remembrance, an endowment scholarship has been established to support students who have completed their first year in college and are pursuing a career in healthcare. Remembrances may be made in the name of Michelle & Kathryn Ponte to the Calaveras Community Foundation, a 501c3 non-profit organization, P.O. Box 1436, Angels Camp, CA 95222 or made online at calaverascommunityfoundation.org

Family and friends are invited to share remembrances at Michelle’s Sunset Soiree on Saturday, July 11, 2015 at 5 p.m. at the Ponte Home in Angels Camp. Burial will be private.