Shelby, Barbara Jean October 9, 1934 - January 2, 2024

Barbara Jean Shelby was born on October 9, 1934 in Iconium, MO to Roy & Eleanor (Garrison) Murray.  She went onto her heavenly home on January 2, 2024 after a short illness.

Barbara grew up as the oldest of 3 children born to Roy & Eleanor in the Iconium area.  She always had good stories and fond memories of Iconium and of the Iconium Store in which her grandparents owned at that time.  

She was saved and baptized in 1951 at the church in Iconium, MO.   She graduated from Osceola High School in 1952.   She married Joe Shelby on May 1, 1954 in Kansas City, MO   They were blessed with 69 ½ years of marriage.   

After a short time of living and working the Kansas City area, they made their way back to Osceola where they made their home and raised their family.   Barbara spent 37 years as the Elementary Secretary at Osceola Public Schools, retiring in 1999.   She spent her summers in the large garden that she and Joe planted and harvested together.   She would then can and share the fruits of her labor with her family.    She enjoyed teaching the wives of her grandsons about the canning process.  After her retirement she spent a lot of her free time volunteering at Alices’ Clothes Closet where she made many new friends and always looked forward to going to her retirement job in town.  

Barbara was very well known for her hot dill pickles as well as for her reputation of being a great pie baker, especially the blackberry pies for the family reunions that she so enjoyed every year.   She also spent a lot of time frying fish that Joe would catch for the family to live on.   

Barbara served in the nursery and various other activities in the Osceola Community Church until her health began to fail.  She also spent many years assisting with the annual Christmas pageant that was held at the Osceola School.

“Granny Barb” as she was known to her family would always have time to fix you something to eat, just sit and play with the grand kids as well as the great-grandkids.  She did enjoy visiting about her garden or just what ever was going on in the world.  She worked hard to keep up on her cousins and extended family that lived away from the area. 

She will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her.   

She was preceded in death by her parents, her brother, Jim Murray and her sister, Brenda Shelby.

Barbara is survived by her husband Joe, Daughter, Beth Vaughn and Son, Larry Shelby & wife Rhonda.

Grandchildren, Jamie Koch (Jon), Lieutenant Colonel Brad Vaughn (Tauna), Austin Shelby (Rachael) & Weston Shelby (Julie).   Greatgrandchildren, Thane (Wacey) Sommer, Rylan Sommer, Camden Sommer.  Ashton Koch, Mason Koch, Tessa & Addison Roberts, Scarlet Elizabeth Vaughn, Hadley, Oaklynn, Kord, Karson and Kora Shelby as well as many nieces, nephews, extended family and friends.

Memorial contributions can be made to the Osceola Elementary School Playground for equipment upgrades in care of the Sheldon Goodrich Funeral Home.