Ruby O’Kelley Shelton

Ruby O’Kelley Shelton, 86, beloved wife of the late Kermit Shelton, passed away Sunday, December 11, 2022.

Born in Greenville, SC she was the daughter of the late Jesse and Ayrie Galloway O’Kelley.

Ruby was a graduate of Parker High School and a charter member of Oak Crest Baptist Church. She was a leader and a servant in her community and family. She was known for her talents and personality. Over the years, she was the Cub Scout Troop leader, church pianist, choir member, WMU leader, Vacation Bible School Director, PTA President, ran voting polls and was an amazing seamstress; she spent many years making cheer uniforms for the entire youth association.

She loved people and spent a lot of time surrounded by friends and family. Ruby shared many laughs and likely got into a fair share of mischief over the years with her lifelong best friend, Barbara Bagwell. But her favorite roles were as a wife and mother. She was a mother to many over the years and enjoyed finishing the day bird watching with her husband, Kermit in the backyard rocking chairs.

Left to cherish her memory are her son, Kermit Gregory Shelton; daughters, Cynthia Shelton (John) Beall and Vicki Shelton (Keith) Crawford; and honorary son, Randy Cole; grandchildren, Tyler and Seth Shelton, Clancy and Marshall(Brooke) Crawford, and Adam and Virginia Beall.

In addition to her beloved husband and parents, she was preceded in death by brothers, David (Joyce) O’Kelley and Coleman(Betty) O’Kelley.

A visitation will be held Thursday, December 15, 2022, from 12:00 p.m. until 1:45 p.m. at Thomas McAfee Funeral Homes, Northwest, with the funeral service to follow at 2:00 p.m in the Northwest Chapel. Burial will be held at 3:00 p.m. in Graceland Cemetery West.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Wounded Warrior project, www.woundedwarriorproject.org

Friends are encouraged to leave condolence messages for the family by clicking on the button labeled “Leave A Message, Share A Memory” below.