Ruth Ella Key Shelton

Our much beloved mother, Ruth Ella Key Shelton, departed her earthly home on Friday, September 16, 2011, on the eve of her 95th birthday. To meet her at her heavenly home will be her husband and our father, Bernie Ellis Shelton, who passed away in 1974. They are survived by five children to recall the memories of their life together. Daddy built us a house. Mama made it a home. Daddy earned the money. Mama taught us how to take care of it. Daddy taught us to drive a car. Mama taught us how to walk with courage. Daddy preached us a sermon. Mama taught us how to live it everyday. Mama was born September 17, 1916, to Henry Rufus and Susan Ella Badgett Key. She was tenth of eleven children and the last survivor of the family. She was preceded in death by six brothers, Warren Key, Roy Key, Welborn Key, Harvey Key, Gilmer Key, and Ed Key; and four sisters, Minnie White, Bessie Key, Ester Callahan, and Maude Bunker. In addition to her husband, parents, and siblings, she was also preceded in death by two sons-in-law, Arvil Levi "Bud" Money and Wayne Mills Cooke. Surviving with their memories of a wonderful mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother are three daughters and a son-in-law, Rachel (Lonnie) Jackson, Sylvia Money, and Brenda Cooke, all of Mount Airy; two sons and daughters-in-law, Ronald (Debbie) Shelton and Earl (Lynn) Shelton, all of Mount Airy; six granddaughters and their husbands, Pamela Jackson (Terry) Saunders of Welcome, Tammy Money (Doug) Dixon, Christi Cooke (Tim) Calhoun, Lori Cooke (Danny) Creed, and Dawn Shelton (Barry) Rook, all of Mount Airy, and Kasi Shelton (Michael) Gilliam of Claudville, VA; four great-grandsons, Cody Calhoun, Garret Calhoun, and Shelton Rook, all of Mount Airy, and Joshua (Mandy) Miller of Greensboro; and three great-granddaughters, Emily Calhoun and Madelyn Ruth "Maddie" Creed, both of Mount Airy, and Taylor Johnston of Claudville, VA. In addition to her descendents, she is also survived by dozens of young adults that she kept in her daycare center when they where small children. It was one of Mama's biggest pleasures later in life to see one of these grown-up children of which she had such fond memories. One of Mama's greatest loves was her church, Dover Baptist Church in the White Plains community. Mama and Daddy were instrumental in beginning Dover Baptist Church. Daddy served as pastor at Little Mountain Baptist Church and Mount Zion Baptist Church in Surry County and Hills Grove Baptist Church in Claudville, VA. Mama was the perfect pastor's wife and stood by his side all the way. The funeral service will be held Sunday, September 18, 2011, at 3:00 PM at Moody Funeral Home Chapel in Mount Airy, with the Rev. J. Cecil Hill officiating. Burial will follow in the Dover Baptist Church Cemetery. The family will receive friends Sunday from 2:00 until 3:00 PM at the funeral home. The family would like to express their gratitude to the staff of Mountain Valley Hospice and Palliative Care, especially caregivers Tabitha Kelley, Carolyn Spraker, and Devin Chilton. They were wonderful. The ladies at Dover Baptist Church were great to visit, send cards, and bring flowers. We love you all. A special thank you goes to everyone that lifted up a prayer for any of us, called, sent cards, or sent food. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts. Flowers will be accepted, or donations can be made to Yokefellow Co-Operative Ministry, 215 Jones School Road, Mount Airy, NC 27030. Please designate donations to the Fuel Supplement Fund for Senior Citizens.