Louise Shelby

Mable “Louise” Shelby, 94, of Muskogee, OK passed away Tuesday, March 3, 2015. She was born January 23, 1921 in Dallas, TX to Jess Barton Reed and Beulah Jones Reed. Louise graduated from Fort Smith High School with the class of 1939. Louise joined the Catholic Church at the young age of 19. Most of her life she was a member of St. Boniface in Fort Smith but for some years she attended St. Francis Xavier in Sallisaw, Oklahoma during which time she played the organ for services. For the past eight years, Louise attended St. Joseph Catholic Church when she moved to Muskogee to live with her daughter. Louise married the love of her life, Carl J. Shelby, on September 24, 1940 at St. Boniface Church in Fort Smith, AR. They were married for 62 years until his death in 2002. They made their home in Fort Smith for a number of years where she worked as a Loan Officer for Superior Federal Savings and Loan. Louise and Carl were known to be accomplished ballroom dancers and they were very active in the Fort Smith community. In the 1960’s, they organized and were charter members of the Catholic Interracial Council. They held a lifetime membership with the NAACP along with being longtime supporters of the Southern Poverty Law Center. Louise was also a charter member of the Sutton Place Garden Club. She enjoyed gardening, flower arranging, tending to her organic vegetable garden, sewing, and bird watching. Louise was loved by many and will be truly missed. She was preceded in death by her parents, Jess and Beulah Reed; her husband, Carl Shelby; her brother, Jess Reed, Jr.; and her sister, Grace Reed. Louise is survived by her son, Ron Shelby and wife Montez of St. Petersburg, FL; daughter, Carleen Falleur and husband Ed of Muskogee; granchildren, Yvette Crumly and husband Jeff, Shelley Mundt and husband Chris, Greg Falleur and wife Andrea, Ephrem Shelby and wife Christina, Ian Shelby and wife Charlotte, Dennis Denmark and wife Elana, Kimberly Sanders and husband Greg, Ramona Denmark, David Denmark and wife Susan, Michelle Adkins and husband Michele, Justin Hood II and wife Jenesis; 31 great grandchildren; sister-in-law, Joan Shelby; many nieces, nephews, other family members and friends. In lieu of flowers, the family request that all donations be made to Muskogee Catholic Charities at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 323 N Virginia St, Muskogee, OK 74403. A Scriptural Rosary service will be 7:00 P.M., Thursday, March 5, 2015 at St. Joseph Catholic Church, with visiting to follow. Funeral Mass for Louise will be 12:00 P.M., Friday, March 6, 2015 at St. Joseph Catholic Church with Father Mike Knipe, pastor and Father Robert Dye as Celebrant. Interment will be 2:00 p.m., Monday, March 9, 2015 at Fort Smith National Cemetery in Fort Smith, AR. Pallbearers will be Greg Falleur, Chris Mundt, Ephrem Shelby, Jeff Crumly, Ian Shelby, and Zach Crumly. Honorary Pallbearers will be Dennis Denmark, Kimberly Sanders, Ramona Denmark, David Denmark, Michelle Adkins, and Justin Hood II.

Louise Shelby

January 23, 1921 - March 3, 2015