Ethel Lee Shelton

Ethel Lee Shelton, 81, of Marion, passed away after battling a lengthy illness, on Tuesday, Dec. 7th, 2021 while surrounded by her family at her home.

Ethel was born in McDowell County, NC on January 22, 1940, to the late Thomas Lee and Mary Randolph Lee. She was married to her husband of 67 years, Clyde Delano Shelton. Ethel enjoyed spending time outdoors. She enjoyed Nascar, was an avid fan of Jeff Gordon and loved her Atlanta Braves. She enjoyed playing bingo with her friends, but most of all, Ethel loved and adored her family.

In addition to her parents, Ethel was preceded in death by two brothers, Eugene Lee and Jay Will Lee; a sister, Wilma Palmore; and a grandson, Michael Wayne Presnell.

Those left to cherish her memory include her husband, Clyde Shelton of the home; three daughters, Debra Shelton, Janet Gragg (Bear), and Rachel Bartlett; three sisters, Gladys Kuykendall, Ruth Duncan, and Margie Edwards; two brothers, James Lee (Debbie) and Charles Lee; four grandchildren, Pamela Ledford (Sean), Justin Gragg (Susan), Jaime Hanlon (Patrick), and Ian Bartlett; five great grandchildren, Braedan Hanlon, Harper Hanlon, Aurora Gragg, Jacob Ledford (Ashley) and Ethan Ledford; two great great grandchildren, Noland Ledford and Josclyn Hughes.

A funeral service will be conducted at 2:00 p.m., Friday, December 10, 2021, at the Chapel of Beam Funeral Service in Marion with the Reverend Jeff Duncan officiating. The family will receive friends from 1:00 p.m. until 2:00 p.m., prior to the service at the funeral home. Burial will follow at McDowell Memorial Park.

Memorials may be made to Care Partners Hospice of Marion, 575 Airport Rd. Marion, NC 28752.

The family would like to extend a special thank you to Care Partners Hospice of Marion, especially, Angela Taylor (RN), Megan Stackable (CNA), Samantha Kaylor (Social Worker), and Diane Brooks (Chaplin) for their warm hearts and dedicated hard work and kindness.