Mary Ellen (Shinn) Jelks, 78, passed away peacefully on January 10, 2011 at Citizen’s Memorial Hospital in Bolivar, Missouri.
She was born in rural Benton County, Missouri on October 23, 1932 to Andrew Barton and Ida Belle (Garrison) Shinn.
Mary attended Dunkard Elementary and Osceola High School.
She was united in marriage to J.W. Jelks on January 14, 1950. They made their home in rural Osceola, Missouri where they raised their five children.
Mary was a member of the Vista Baptist Church and a devout Christian.
She was primarily a homemaker, but did work as a cook and CNA before retirement. Mary was an excellent cook, seamstress, and gardener. She loved music, singing, reading, fishing, hunting, and bird watching.
Mary was preceded in death by one son, Clayton T. Jelks; her parents; five sisters, Retha Cripe, Lena Staten, Julia Shinn, Margaret, in infancy, and Anna Mae Wisner; 2 brothers William Shinn and Charles Shinn.
She is survived by two daughters, Donna Crouch, of Osceola, Missouri, Geraldine Hicks of Arkansas City, Kansas,; two sons, Ron Jelks and wife Robbie of Kansas City, Missouri, J.W. Jelks Jr. of Osceola, Missouri and daughter in-law, Shirley Jelks of Osceola, MO; 12 grandchildren, 10 great grandchildren, Dwight Sell Jr., Janell Pomeroy, Mistie Rickard, Jen Johnson, Wendy Barnhart, Brandy Jelks, Tracy Wilson, Amber Warren, Megan Jelks, Robert Jelks, Bart Jelks, Stephan Stone, Caleb Sell, Kristen Barnhart, Austin Rickard, Beth Barnhart, Logan Rickard, Kyler Wilson, Maddie Barnhart, Chase Wilson, Blake Wilson and Christopher Warren. She is also survived by two sisters, Edna Wisner and Josephine Hyde.
Mary, a loving mother, grandmother, great grandmother, and friend will be dearly missed by all.
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