Obituary of Karen Ruth Mauldin Shelton

Karen Ruth (Mauldin) Shelton, 79, of Fort Worth, Texas was called home by her Lord and Savior on Friday, January 14, 2022.Karen was born on January 28, 1942 in Brady, Texas to Sidney Clive Mauldin and Eddie Ruth (Fort) Mauldin.She was raised in Kerrville, Texas where she graduated from Tivy High School in December 1959. Karen began taking piano lessons as a four year old and her lifelong love of music was born. By the time she was sixteen she was teaching piano. She had a beautiful soprano voice and was the Tivy High School Choir Sweetheart her Senior Year.On February 1, 1960 Karen married her childhood sweetheart, Phillip Harris Shelton. Together they raised two children, Lori Ann Kelley and Kevin Duane Shelton. She has six grandchildren, Keegan Leah Kelley, Jacoby Dwayne Kelley, Jace Dane (Shannon) Kelley, Kaitlyn Dee (Matthew Brian) Renfro, Ryan Lee Shelton, and Kassidy Lynn (William Manley) Graham. She also has four great-grandchildren, Kason James McCleskey, Leslie Grace Renfro, Lydia Faith Renfro, and Jaie Dwayne Kelley.Karen’s husband Phil joined the United States Air Force shortly after they were married and they spent the next twenty-six years happily traveling all over the country and world until Phil retired from the Air Force.Their favorite country was Germany where they were stationed twice. While on his first tour of duty in Germany, Phil surrendered his life to the ministry and became a Southern Baptist Pastor. Karen always said that Phil’s ministry was preaching and her ministry was music. Together they spent over 4O plus years using their gifts serving their country and their Lord.After Phil’s sudden death in 2004, Karen moved to the Dallas-Ft Worth area to be near her children and grandchildren. She joined the Southcliff Baptist Church and almost immediately began working with the Replace Widows group with Never Alone Ministries. She also volunteered her time at the Waterford Retirement Center playing the piano and leading choirs with the residents.Karen’s favorite song was “Edelweiss”. The German translation of the word “edelweiss” quite literally means white and noble. The beautiful flower that is only ever found in white represents devotion, deep love, patriotism, adventure, and sacrifice. Her family all agree…this truly sums up Karen’s life. Her greatest joy was spending time with her family. She almost never missed a soccer or volleyball game and even traveled to England with her youngest grandson’s soccer team. She also went to as many band concerts as possible. She loved celebrating birthdays and holidays with all of her family. Karen is survived by her two children, Mrs. Lori Ann Kelley and Kevin (Robyn) Shelton, her six grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren, her two younger brothers, Lynn (Suzie) Mauldin and Garwin Mauldin and their families, and her sister-in-law Jerry Summers. She is preceded in death by her beloved husband, Phillip Harris Shelton, and her son-in-law, Jimmie Dwayne Kelley.