Raymond Lee Shelton

1928 - 2021

Raymond Lee Shelton
December 25, 1928 - December 15, 2021
Lee's Summit, Missouri - Raymond Lee Shelton was born December 25, 1928 to Leo Everett Shelton and Louise Sophia Seaton Shelton, and passed to his eternal reward on December 15, 2021, surrounded by the caring staff at the Missouri Veterans Home in Warrensburg, MO.
Mr. Shelton served as a chaplain's assistant in the Korean War. Upon his return, he was ordained to the ministry by Rosemont Baptist Church in East St. Louis, Illinois. He attended William Jewell College, graduating in 1957. He earned Master's degrees in Divinity and Religious Education from Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Kansas City, MO.
In, 1962, he was appointed as a missionary to Thailand by the Southern Baptist Foreign Mission Board and moved his family to Thailand where he served until 1977. His missionary work included preaching, teaching English, working in radio and television, and caring for leper patients who lived in the villages that were not in close proximity to health care. Upon his return to the States, he served as a church planter in Fairfield, CT. Later he was Director of Development for Arizona Baptist Children's Services. Upon his retirement from the Children's Services, he served as associate pastor at First Baptist Church, Sun City, AZ. He served the Phoenix Police Department as a chaplain for ten years. In 1983, Mr. Shelton married Alpha Logan Freeman.
Mr. Shelton was an accomplished pianist and could play music by ear as well as by note. One of his favorite roles in Thailand was as director of a bell choir composed of a group of young people who were invited to perform for Bob Hope. He enjoyed being a magician and a ventriloquist and his favorite helper was "Timothy Wood." One of his special gifts was that of being a good listener.
He enjoyed his friends at the Veterans Home, where he played the piano for their worship services and special holidays, counseled, and prayed with fellow residents during COVID times. He especially enjoyed family times, the weekly video chats, and phone calls. He was dearly loved and will be greatly missed.
Mr. Shelton is mourned by his wife, Alpha; children Dr. Becky Shelton (Mary Ellen Lutz), Dr. Penny Shelton (Robert Stewart), Jana Duckworth, James Shelton; stepchildren: James "Russ" Freeman (Trudi), Nancy Pettet (Tim), Jeff Freeman (Patricia); several grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his father, mother, brothers, Robert Shelton and William Shelton; sisters, Cora Gunnels and Marian Wilson; and granddaughter Jasmine Jean Shelton.
Visitation will be at Connection Point Church, 10500 E. Route 350 Hwy. Raytown, MO. 64138, on January 3, 2022 at 10:00 AM followed by Funeral Services at 11:00 AM. Military Honors, Committal Prayers and Entombment will immediately follow at Freedom Mausoleum, Floral Hills Memorial Gardens Raytown, MO.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that gifts be made to Hope Network, 10500 East State Hwy 350, Raytown, Mo. 64138.