Byron Edward "Ned" Shelton

Services for Byron Edward "Ned" Shelton of Corrigan will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, March 26, 2011, in the First United Methodist Church in Corrigan with Harold Seago officiating. Interment will follow in the Union Springs Cemetery in Corrigan. Visitation will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, March 25, in the Corrigan Funeral Home Chapel. Mr. Shelton was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, on June 10, 1919 and died at his home in Corrigan on March 23, 2011. His influence will be remembered by family and friends. As a young man, he attended schools in New Orleans and played in jazz bands in the famed French Quarter. After graduating from Loyola University, he served as a policeman on the New Orleans Police Department while continuing to play music. He found his calling when he entered the teaching profession as a band director, first in Jackson, Mississippi, then in Louisiana. Finally, Mr. Shelton and his family moved to Corrigan in 1955 where he obtained his master's degree in music at Stephen F. Austin State University and was an integral part of the Corrigan ISD until his retirement in 1985, after which he enjoyed working at the Mickey Riley Public Library. While on the faculty of the Corrigan School District he was the band director, a history teacher, a junior high principal, and the school counselor. He was a captivating teacher who challenged students to achieve their best. His enthusiastic love of history inspired many students to pursue further studies in the field. As written in his students' dedication to Mr. Shelton in their 1978 high school yearbook, "he was made of New Orleans jazzÉ(with) a sense of humor, (and) the ability to tolerate the beginning sounds band students make on their instruments...." He was known for his talent to weave a good story from his life experiences. A true renaissance man, Mr. Shelton was passionate about his family, a gardener with a love for beautiful flowers and fresh vegetables, an enthusiastic chef who enjoyed cooking for his family and friends, a consummate gentleman, and a musical virtuoso -- master of the piano, clarinet and saxophone. Mr. Shelton was the son of Byron Edward and Louise Lanata Shelton. He was preceded in death by his wife of 48 years, Charlotte Virginia Hawkins Shelton. He is survived by his four children, Ginny Fender of Tyler, Ned Shelton and Mary Shelton, both of Corrigan, and Becky Geeslin of Surfside; grandchildren, Robert Fender and wife, Julie, and Kevin Fender and wife, Leslie, Patrick Fender, all of Austin, and Beth Geeslin of Corrigan; and seven great-grandchildren, Ashley, Luke, Jadon, Colin, Thomas, Eric and Adelina; and numerous other relatives and friends. Pallbearers are Patrick Fender, Kevin Fender, Robert Fender, Billy Mac Cockrell, Paul Cockrell, Wayne Geeslin, Robert Nash and Mario Venegas. Mr. Shelton's love, enthusiasm and contribution to the world through his teaching, music and appreciation of life's gifts flavored the lives of many. In the words of his special daughter, Mary, "He will be remembered in our hearts." Funeral services entrusted to Corrigan Funeral Home, Inc., 204 East Front Street, Corrigan, Texas 75939.