Martha Shelton

Mrs. Martha Shelton, 93, of Gladewater, passed away on Tuesday, May 26, 2020 in Gladewater surrounded by family. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Thursday, May 28, 2020, at the Croley Funeral Home Chapel in Gladewater with Bro. Wayne Norvell officiating. Interment will follow at Lakeview Memorial Gardens.

Martha was born May 8, 1927 in Dallas, Texas to the late Roy Wayne Starnes, Sr. and Ruby Clark Starnes. She moved to the camp in Union Grove during the oil boom and was a Union Grove Alumni. Martha worked for Bell Telephone and then for the Gladewater ISD before retiring. She was known to many as “Gran”; she loved life and her family. Martha enjoyed collecting pictures of all her kids, grandchildren, great grandchildren and great great grandchildren. Martha always looked forward to going to the mall to “thump” every Saturday. She was loved by all and will be dearly missed by all the loving family she leaves behind.

Martha is survived by her three daughters Donna Hunt and husband Doss of Gladewater, Diana “Pidgeon” Wheat of Gladewater and Jana Watts and husband Loyd of Gilmer; ten grandchildren Michele Philpot and husband John of Gladewater, Dee Hunt and wife Tonya of Union Grove, Todd McGrede and wife Jenny of Watauga, Monica Hardy of Madisonville, James L. Hanson, Jr. of Kilgore, Lisa Schumacher and husband Scott of Bellville, Marci Smith of Bryan-College Station, Dee Watts of Ore City, Amy Watts of Gilmer and Donny Watts of Glenwood; 16 great grandchildren; 38 great great grandchildren as well as many other loving family and friends.

She is preceded in death by her husband Lou Shelton, brother Roy Starnes, Jr., daughter Becky Knight and great granddaughter Krissy Cordray.