David Carter Shelton

David Carter Shelton, 72, of West Memphis, Ark., passed away Wednesday, June 29, 2011. Born Sept. 27, 1938 to David Ward and Lucille Williams Shelton in Springfield, Mo., he graduated from Ozark (Missouri) High School where he played basketball and the trumpet in the band; he was a two-time District Shot Put champion. He attended the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville, and graduated from Drury College with a Bachelor of Arts in Business where he was a member of Sigma Nu fraternity. He served in the U.S. Army and served in the U.S. Army Corps in the 35th Infantry Division Band. He received his Juris Doctrate from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville. He was admitted to the Arkansas Bar in 1966. He practiced law in West Memphis for 45 years, actively in Worker's Compensation, Insurance Law, Estate Planning and Real Estate. He was appointed Special Justice to the Arkansas Supreme Court by then Governor Bill Clinton. He was a member of First Baptist Church in West Memphis where he was a long-time greeter and former member of the Finance Committee. He was a former president of the Crittenden County Bar Association. He was a former board member of East Arkansas Enterprises. He was a member of Meadowbrook Country Club and was a former member of the West Memphis Rotary Club and the Lion's Club. He loved sports, especially Arkansas Razorback football and basketball, St. Louis Cardinal's baseball, which he had attended since a child, and he also enjoyed watching any sport that his grandchildren played. He was an avid fisherman and dove hunter, but his passion was duck hunting in the Lansing Bottoms with close friend David Wallace. Mr. Shelton was preceded in death by his wife of 48 years, who died in February, Sarah Ann "Sally" Simpson Shelton. He is survived by his son and daughter-in-law, John Carter and Jennifer M. Shelton of Mission, Kan.; his daughter and son-in-law, Sarah Shelton and Paul Watts O'Neal Jr. of West Memphis, Ark.; grandchildren, Paul Watts "Trey" O'Neal III, Sarah Caroline O'Neal and Elizabeth Shelton O'Neal. Special thanks to Dr. Jason Chandler of the West Clinic and Dr. Jacinto Hernandez; his caregivers, Geraldine Walton, Joann Brown, Angela Walker and Jamie McGruder, his secretary. Memorials may be sent to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital: 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, Tenn. 38105-1942, First Baptist Church of West Memphis: 200 North Missouri, West Memphis, Ark. 72301 or to the Wings Cancer Foundation: 100 N. Humphreys Blvd. Memphis, Tenn. 38120. The visitation will be Tuesday, July 5, 2011 from 6-8 p.m. at Roller-Citizens Funeral Home in West Memphis, Ark. The service will be Wednesday, July 6, 2011 at 11 a.m. in the funeral home chapel with interment following the service in Crittenden Memorial Park in Marion, Ark. Online guestbook: www.rollerfuneralhomes.com.