Shelby Jean Livingston Melson

Shelby Jean Livingston Melson, age 90, passed away on November 17. 2025 in Danville, AL. Her memorial service will be held at Peck Funeral Home on November 20, 2025, at 1:00 PM with Richard Sport officiating. Visitation will be from 11AM -1PM at the funeral home.

Shelby was born to James Richard and Bessie Ratliff Livingston on August 6, 1935, in Danville, AL. She married the love of her life, Arnold Melson, on May 13, 1952, sharing 72 years together before his passing in 2024. In 1960, they welcomed their only child, Karen.

Shelby was the tenth of eleven children. All her siblings preceded her in death. The eight sisters were, Ara Lowery of lrondale, Ruby Lee Collins of Hartselle, Ruth Randolph of Danville, Lena Bullard of Hartselle, Frances Morris of Hartselle, Odell (Mutt) Nicholson of Hartselle, Shirley Johnson of Moulton, and Bobbie Bolan of Moulton. The two brothers were Edward Livingston and Carmon Livingston, both of Danville.

Survivors include her daughter, Karen Melson of Danville, sister-in-law, Emogene Livingston of Danville, and many nieces and nephews along with their offspring.

Shelby obeyed the gospel in 1967 and was a member of Danville Church of Christ.
Shelby worked with the U.S. Postal Service as a rural mail carrier at Danville from 1969 until her retirement in 2001. She enjoyed her job and loved the people she served. She also worked alongside her husband on the family farm in Danville. She enjoyed gardening and sewing. She very much enjoyed the family trips to the Grand Ole Opry, the Great Smokey Mountains, and the Midwest farm country. Traveling to Kenny Rogers concerts across the country created family memories to last a lifetime. No distance was too far to travel to spend time with Kenny and friends made over a 40-year span.

Pallbearers will be her nephew, A.D. Halbrooks, along with great-nephews Jayme Johnson, Keith McCay, Lucas Randolph, Matt Raley, Kurt Randolph.

Honorary pallbearers will be Jerry Williams, who is like part of her family, Tom York, a friend who always made her smile and James Nicholson, a special nephew.

Karen would like to thank Dr. Micah Howard and his staff for years of excellent care, Hospice of the Valley, especially Lunden Brown, Stephanie Russell, and Melanie Wilson for their roles in her end-of-life care, along with the staff at CVS in Moulton. A special thanks is extended to Ellen Flowers Sapp for her years of loving care and support and Mary Hill for her love and care.

Karen extends much appreciation and love to all family members and special friends who reached out in so many ways through the years as she cared for her mother during her dementia journey. A very special thanks to Emogene Livingston, who was physically unable to assist, but always remembered us in her continual thoughts and prayers.

In lieu of flowers, Karen requests donations be made to Hospice of the Valley, P.O. Box 2745, Decatur, AL. She also encourages you to consider making additional donations throughout the years, when possible, to Hospice of the Valley as they are the only non-profit hospice group providing services to Lawrence and Morgan counties.

Peck Funeral Home
1600 Hwy 31 SW
P.O. Box 427
Hartselle, AL 35640
256.773.2541
256.773.2543 (Fax)