A MEMORABLE 106+ YEARS JOURNEY

A mom is one of life's best gifts, someone to treasure all life through.  We can shed tears that she is gone or we can smile because she has lived with us this long (106 years plus), thus letting the memories live on.

In the little town of Arnaudville, Louisiana, Robert and Elvira Wilrye were blessed on April 3, 1914 with a daughter.  They named their bundle of joy, Evelena.  After Evelena reached the age of three years old, her mother passed away.  She was then put in the care and raised by Maggie Thomas Long.  Thus Maggie became her adopted mother.  Many years later in life, Evelena decided she preferred being called Evelyn.  She became known by several names.  Some called her:  Evelyn, Leen, Gramma, MawMaw and affectionally called "Sugar" by her daughters.

Maw Maw Evelyn attended school in Westlake.  While in grade school, she told us that every day they had to sing the song, "Count Your Blessings Count Them One by One.

Evelyn later met Haywood Shelton.  They fell in love and became husband and wife,  To this union, three children were born:  Robert Leon, Claudetta, and Elvira.  They raised their family there in Westlake, Louisiana and united with Good Hope Baptist Church.  Evelyn remained a member there for many, many years where she served as an usher.  Later in life as years passed, Evelyn made a decision to transfer her church affiliation.  She became a member of St. Matthew Baptist Church.  She fell dearly in love with the St. Matthew Church family and their spirtual leader.  She attended church faithfully until her health failed her,.  During her home confinement, she looked forward to her Wednesday date with her Pastor (Rev. Elliott Ford).  Church family members visited her frequently for social reasons and prayer sessions.

Many days, Evelyn's leisure time was spent with a fishing pole at some pond or river.  Fishing was her passion.  She liked to read her Bible, Daily Word, work puzzles and play games of scrabble and dominoes.

Another link in the family chain was broken on the early morning of February 9.  Evelyn was preceded in death by her husband, Haywood Shelton; daughter, Claudetta (Claudette) Scott; two sisters, Emily Smith and Alma Wilrye; four brothers, Curley Wilrye, Lincoln Wilrye, Robert Wilrye and Ivory Wilright.

She leaves to mourn her transitioning and cherish her memories, her son, Robert Leon Shelton Sr. (Evelyn) of Lake Charles, La.; daughter, Elvia Scott (Willie) of San Francisco, Ca.; four grandchildren, Robert L. Shelton Jr. (Monica) of Lake Charles, La., Tanya' (Tammy) Bluford (Steve), Derick (Natacha) and Melissa Scott of San Francisco, Ca.; four great-grandchildren , Alexander Hayward and Blake Louis Shelton of Lake Charles, La., Kennedy Evelyn and Toni Mae Blufod of San Francisco, Ca. and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.  "Death ends life  not a relationship"

"Death leaves a heartache,  No one can heal, Love leaves a memory No one can steal"