James Kenneth Shelton, born September 28, 1931, passed on the 8th day of January 2019, at his home after a brief illness. He was 87 years old. Mr. Shelton was born outside Richards, Missouri, to James Jacob Shelton and Myrtle Mae (Lively) Shelton. He had 7 brothers and sisters, Earl, Everett, Charles, Sheridan, Gilbert, Mildred and Margie. Mr. Shelton was a graduate of Fort Scott High School in 1949 and served his country as a Marine in the Korean War from 1951 to 1953. He received a Purple Heart.
Mr. Shelton has six children: Randall Blaine Shelton and his wife, Susan Shelton, Madison, OH; Vena Lynn (Shelton) Cisco and her partner, Larry Gene Wilson, Nevada, MO; Lisa Jeanette (Shelton) Miller and her husband, Joe Miller, Nevada, MO; Roger Briane Shelton, Carl Junction, MO; Rita Leann (Shelton) Reed and her husband, Rusty Reed, Nevada, MO; and Dana Louise (Shelton) Goodwin and her husband, Chris Goodwin, Overland Park, KS.
He has 15 grandchildren: Blaine Shelton's children; Erin E. Shelton, Chicago, IL; Jacob B. Shelton and his wife Amy, Madison, OH; Brett D. Shelton and his partner, Paige Henry, Basehor, KS; Craig M. Shelton and his wife, Michelle, Grain Valley, MO; Nathan Shelton, Madison, OH; and Jillian Shelton, Madison, OH. Vena Cisco's children: Kendra R. (Cisco) Little and her husband, David, Nevada, MO; and Geoffrey E. Cisco and his wife, Stephanie, Wentzville, MO. Lisa Miller's children: Jennifer R. Greenlee and her wife, Marlene Scotten, Webb City, MO; and Zachary D. Greenlee and his wife, Cristin, St. Louis, MO. Roger Shelton's children: James (Jamie) Shelton and Joseph Shelton, Carl Junction, MO. Rita Reed's children, Cody Reed, Nevada, MO and Dillon Reed, deceased; and Dana Goodwin's daughter, Penelope Milan Goodwin.
The Shelton family has 10 great-grandchildren: Peyton Shelton, Madison, OH; Stella and Beckett Shelton, Basehor, KS; Savannah Jo Shelton, Pleasant Hill, MO; Carsen Uptegrove, Nevada, MO; Mason and Kylie Cisco, Wentzville, MO; Harper and Hazel Greenlee, St. Louis, MO; and Mareus Mask, Webb City, MO.
Mr. Shelton is predeceased by his wife, Hazel, who passed on December 28, 2016; and grandson, Dillon Reed who passed on November 22, 2018.
Kenny married Hazel Joan (Hess) Shelton on Sunday, July 4, 1954, at Independence Methodist Church, located about 2 miles north of Hume, Missouri. The Sheltons were married 62 years. The Sheltons lived in Fort Scott, KS for the first year of their marriage and Kenny worked at Owen Motor Company. They then moved to Stotesbury, MO where they bought a home and 13 acres. In 1959, they moved to Eve, MO, and Mr. Shelton helped with the construction of Bunn's Trail Blazer Inn and Package Store. He worked there about a year then returned to Owen Motors and the family moved back to their farm at Stotesbury, MO. In February 1965, with four young children, the Shelton family moved briefly to Warrensburg, MO, and Mr. Shelton worked for Hamilton Motor Company. The family then moved to Nevada in May of 1965, and Kenny worked for Wysong-Malmo Motors. They bought a home in 1965 located at 830 S. College Street, Nevada, MO, and raised their family at that home for 19 years. During this time, Mr. Shelton worked for Bill's Coal Company and Safelite Glass Company. He leased and operated the DX Service Station on Austin Blvd and a Texaco Station on Osage Blvd from 1972 to 1976. Mr. Shelton started his own business, Nevada Waste Disposal, in 1982 and had over 100 customers the first week of operation. He operated that business until the Fall of 1993, when he retired.
Mr. Shelton has been a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints since 1964. He and his wife served their community by providing for those less fortunate, offering assistance when needed, and diligently working on their family genealogy and temple work in their Church. Mr. Shelton was a very honest and hardworking man who always found a way to earn a living and provide for his family and help others in his church and community. In April of 1976, Mr. Shelton was the Branch President for the congregation when the LDS Church broke ground and was constructed at 900 N. Olive, Nevada, MO. He conducted the first service there in April 1977. Mr. Shelton provided hours of labor and supervision in its acquisition and construction. He and his wife diligently served the Lord in various leadership roles and teaching capacities in the church.
Throughout his life Mr. Shelton always worked hard to provide and save for his family. He enjoyed classic country music, Hank Williams, Flatt & Scruggs, and Charlie Pride. He looked forward to quail hunting, training English Setters and fishing. He has always been the patriarch of his family and they have relied on him for many years for guidance and counsel in their lives. Even though his father was killed in a farm accident when he was a very young child, he exemplified the finest qualities of fatherhood - stability, honesty, integrity, hard work, humor, and most of all, love. The father and mother of this wonderful family are gone, but they have left a lifetime of wonderful memories for their children and extended family.
Graveside services with Military Honors will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Monday, January 14, 2019 at Newton Burial Park in Nevada with Ammon Hizer officiating. The family will receive friends from 1:30 -2:30 p.m. on Monday prior to the service at Ferry Funeral Home in Nevada.
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