William Thomas (Tom) Shelton

Rev. William Thomas “Tom” Shelton passed away August 28, 2015 in Hospice Care of St. Francis Hospital in Tulsa, He celebrated his 75th birthday August 1 with a party for friends and family in his home. Services will be held Wednesday, Sept. 2 at 1 p.m. at Muskogee’s First Baptist Church. Pastors Billy Parker, Glen Little and Ed Chaney will officiate. Burial will follow at Greenhill Cemetery. He was born August 1, 1940 in Muskogee to James Thomas “Pete” and Gaude Leona Nichols Shelton. His parents preceded him in death. He married Charlotte McIver September 2, 1960 in Muskogee. Tom was her caregiver during an eight-year illness until her death Sept. 13, 2011. He married his junior high and high school friend, Micki Farmer Van Deventer, Oct. 6, 2012 at All Souls’ Episcopal Church in Oklahoma City. Tom attended Irving and Alice Robertson Jr. High and was a 1958 graduate of Muskogee Central High School. He attended Northeastern State University for two years. He was a data processing manager for Anderson Wholesale for 42 years. From 1966 to 1979, he was a bi-vocational music and youth minister at Oldham Memorial, Immanuel, Coweta, Morris and New Hope Baptist churches. He became pastor at Oldham Memorial December 5, 1979 and served there 24 years. Since 2011, Tom has been the visiting pastor at First Baptist Church in Boynton. During his ministerial career, he conducted 150 revivals in most of Muskogee’s Southern Baptist churches and led more than 1,000 people to Christ. At the time of his death, he was a visiting pastor for Muskogee’s First Baptist Church members who were homebound, in hospitals and nursing homes. He also was on staff at Cornerstone Funeral Home, frequently performing services for those without a church home. Tom’s life was a tribute to the dedication he had for serving Christ and the love he had for his family. He is survived by his wife, Micki, of the home; daughters, Detra LaCrone and Oweta Shelton, Muskogee; and sisters, Nancy Shelton, Muskogee; and Patsy Mills, Waller, Tex. Also surviving are granddaughters, Rachel Colina and husband, Pedro, and Shelly Gloria, and husband, Jessie, Muskogee; grandsons, Austin Hood, and wife Samantha, Muskogee, and Garrett LaCrone, and wife, Stephanie, Lacey, WA. Surviving great grandchildren are Cruz and Xavi Colina, and Jordi Colina, expected in September, Adrianna and Isandro Gloria, Tyra and Victoria Livingston, all of Muskogee; Kaden and Lucas LaCrone, Lacey, WA. A niece, Jeanne Stockton, Tomball, TX.; and a nephew, Zachary Shelton, stationed with the U.S. Army in Ft. Carson, CO., also survive. The family has entrusted Tom’s care and services to Cornerstone Funeral Home, 1830 N. York, Muskogee, (918) 682-1500. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to First Baptist Church, 111 S. 7th St., Muskogee, 74401, Boynton First Baptist Church, P. O. Box 185, Boynton, 74422, and Oldham Memorial, 3705 Tahlequah St., Muskogee,74401.

William Thomas (Tom) Shelton

August 1, 1940 - August 28, 2015