LaVere B. Shelton

Mrs. LaVere B. Shelton, age 93 years, of Hartsburg, Mo., died Thursday, March 17, 2011, at St. Mary's Health Center. LaVere was born January 28, 1918, in Mt. Hulda, Mo., the daughter of Jacob H. and Emma E. Kullman Behrens. She was married on May 7, 1939, in Springfield, Mo. to Charles I. Shelton who preceded her in death on January 30, 2006. A resident of the Central Missouri area for most of her life, LaVere graduated from Jefferson City High School. After graduating from high school, LaVere held secretarial jobs with the Conservation Commission; was office manager at Republican State Committee Headquarters for three different state chairmen; held secretarial and clerical jobs with the United States Dept. of Agriculture in Columbia and Jefferson City; served as a Rural Mail Carrier for Route 2 out of Jefferson City; and in March 1960, left Jefferson City for St. Louis when her husband was transferred to Missouri Pacific Railroad headquarters. After 20 years with the United States Secret Service, she retired as office manager of the St. Louis office. In 1980, LaVere and Charles returned to Jefferson City and built a home near Hartsburg, Mo. They traveled in the United States extensively and toured England, France, Italy, Switzerland, Belgium, Holland, Germany, Greece, Romania, Turkey, Hungary, Russia, Hong Kong, Thailand, Jamaica and the Bahamas. She was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church and the American Association of Retired Persons. LaVere was an avid bowler for 25 years. Survivors include: one daughter, Patricia Shelton of Hartsburg, Mo.; one son, Michael E. Shelton and his wife Jo Anna and their family; Kelly, JoDee and Alexander of St. Louis, Mo.; two grandchildren, Deborah Ranger and Charley Michael Shelton and his wife Patricia; five great-grandchildren, Chandler, Joshua, Zada, Tony and Ryan; one nephew, Allen Beck; and three nieces, Gloria Irwin, Margie Bury and Betty Robinson. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; three brothers, Herbert Behrens, Raymond Behrens and Harold Behrens; two sisters, Selma Wierdeman and Viola Beck; and one nephew, Jerry Beck. Private graveside services and entombment will be conducted at 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, March 22, 2011, at the Mausoleum of Riverview Cemetery. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Freeman Mortuary. www.freemanmortuary.com