Vernon Eugene Shelton 1960 ~ 2022
It is with great sorrow the family announces that Vernon Eugene “Rusty” Shelton passed away the evening of Tuesday, February 15, 2022, at OU Medical Center with the love of family around him.
Rusty was born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, on March 30, 1960. He moved with his family to Allison, Texas in 1967, and he graduated from Allison High School in 1978. Rusty earned a nursing certification and worked as a devoted nurse in various hospitals and nursing homes until late 2004 when he returned to the family ranch in the Reydon/ Allison area to run the ranch after the passing of his father Billy V Shelton. Rusty had a love for animals throughout his life.
He raised and shared many varieties of animals, both common and exotic, with friends and people he met at the many shows and auctions he attended. He would occasionally have elementary school classes visit and he loved to share his animals and stories with them. During his years in the home at Allison, he was known for taking in wounded and young animals found by locals (baby rabbits, an owl and even 2 baby skunks among others). He opened and operated an aquarium store in Elk City for a time.
His love of animals was equaled with his love of plants. He was a collector of plants and excelled at dividing, propagating and sharing plants with many people. He had a large number of plants in his greenhouse and house as well and frequently checked the greenhouse temperatures multiple times during very cold nights to put his mind at ease. A common phrase we heard from him was “Jan, You need this”
Another hobby he was enthusiastic about during a period of his life was ceramics. He even had his own kiln. Family and friends still enjoy pieces he fired and painted.
Pictures and sculptures of bears and wolves were common choices for decor in Rusty’s room. He was very interested in Native American music and books and had a deep respect for Native American culture. Rusty will be missed by his mother Willa Jeanne, brother Mark and sisterin- law Jan, nephews: Ryan Shelton and wife Casey, Christopher Shelton and wife Ashton, Jared and wife Lindsey, nieces: Laura James and husband Donald, Sarah Battles and husband Jarrod as well as grand nieces and nephews: Cali, Jack, Adeline, Sawyer, Eleanor, Genevieve, Berhrett and Rhett as well as numerous other family and friends in Reydon, Allison and surrounding area.
He was preceded in death by his father Billy Vernon (Gunny)Shelton.
Funeral services will be held 10:00 AM, Friday, February 25, 2022, at Rose Chapel, Sayre with Pastor Andy Taylor officiating. Interment will follow at Dempsey Cemetery, Cheyenne, OK.
Online guestbook and condolences are available at www.whineryfs.com Services are under the direction of Rose Chapel, Sayre.
