Mary Jean Shelton

Mary Jean (Parrish) Shelton, born September 11, 1911 died on December 16, 2013 at 102 years of age. She was the middle child of Sam Parrish and Maggie (Fields) Parrish, with an older sister (Grace Parrish Barnes) and a younger brother (Virgil Parrish), and grew up on a farm in the Lucerne, MO area.

After completing secondary education, Jean chose teaching as her life career. She enrolled at Kirksville State Teachers College (now Truman State University) and with one year of preparation began teaching in rural schools. She taught in the rural schools for seven years, then the remainder of her teaching was done in town schools at the elementary and some secondary levels.

While attending college, she met and married Leslie Shelton, who was also a school teacher, and this marriage was blessed with two sons-Larry Shelton and Jerry Shelton. Jean and Leslie continued their teaching careers and furthering their own educations. This meant teaching during the school year and attending college in the summer. Jean obtained her B.S. Degree in Education and later completed several hours of graduate work.

Jean and Leslie continued teaching until retirement age, and then moved to a farm near Lemon, MO. They enjoyed country living for seventeen years until Leslie’s death in 1996. With her son’s help, Jean was able to continue living on the farm until her death.


Preceding her in death were her husband, father, mother, sister, brother, and oldest son. Surviving are her son Jerry; grandson Scott of Lady Lake, FL; granddaughter Hayley and husband Steve, and their daughter (Jean’s great-granddaughter) Alice of Nashville, TN; and granddaughter Whitney and husband Jason of Bowling Green, KY.

A memorial service attended by the family will be held at a later date with interment in the Unionville Cemetery.