CELIA SHACKELFORD

CELIA SHACKELFORD Celia Ann Shackelford went to be with her Lord Jesus on July 19, 2025, surrounded by her loving family, after an 8+ years battle with ovarian cancer. She was born on August 18, 1946, in Lubbock, TX to L. Dene and Johnnie Mae Bundrant Stephens of Plains, TX. At the age of three, Celia and her family moved to Lovington, NM. When she was 14, the family relocated once again to Glen Rose, TX. Two weeks after graduation she married her high school sweetheart, Ronnie Shackelford on June 12,1964. They welcomed their first child, Michael Wade in 1967, followed by Philip Wesley in 1971. Celia realized a childhood dream when she graduated valedictorian of her nursing class at Johnson County Hospital School of Vocational Nursing in 1969. It was to be a long and satisfying career, interrupted only once when she was hired by the Somervell Co. Committee on Aging to be the first Senior Center director. Celia often said over the 5 years that followed that she should be paying the committee instead of the other way around. The City of Glen Rose proclaimed April 6, 1982, as Celia Shackelford Day as the Center filled with many friends and family celebrating the work of reaching the senior citizens of Somervell County with many services previously unknown. In June of 1982, Ronnie answered the call to pastor Calvary Baptist Church of Cisco, TX. It was there that Celia, already a pianist, learned to play the organ and loved it. She also taught a Bible study class, which she also loved. Altogether, she taught the Bible approximately 55 years before bad health forced her to quit. She had given her life to the Lord when she was twenty years old and realized any gift she had been given was to be given back to Him as an instrument of praise. She always said that she was as called to be a pastor's wife as Ronnie was called to be a pastor and she enjoyed the many people the Lord brought into their lives over 45 years of pastoring three different churches. Celia is survived by her husband of 61 years, Ronnie Shackelford of Rainbow, TX; children M. Wade Shackelford and wife, Catherine of Gunter, TX. and Philip Shackelford and wife, Marcy of Bellville, TX.; grandchildren Taylor Shackelford of Gunter, TX; Colton Shackelford and wife Shelby of Lubbock, TX; Kinsey Shackelford of Austin, TX; Grayson Shackelford and wife, Kaylynn of Lolita, TX; Wesley Shackelford and Audrey Shackelford, both of Bellville, TX.; brother Wendell Stephens and wife Donna of Brentwood, TN; and sister-in-law Karen Stephens of Granbury, TX. Deceased loved ones include her parents, L Dene and Johnnie Mae Stephens and brother, Lowell Stephens. In lieu of flowers, please contribute to the ministries of Voice of the Martyrs, P O. Box 443, Bartlesville, OK or Wounded Warrior Project, P O. Box 758516, Topeka, KS 66675-8516. A Visitation for Celia will occur on Saturday July 26, 2025, from 6-8pm at the Wiley Funeral Home Chapel in Glen Rose, Texas. A Funeral service will occur on Sunday July 27, 2025, at 2pm located at the Rainbow Baptist Church with a burial to follow at the Squaw Creek Cemetery in Glen Rose, Texas. Services in the care of Wiley Funeral Home Glen Rose, Texas.