Lois Dickey

Lois Marie (Shelton) Dickey, 99, of Lamar, Missouri, passed away peacefully on December 18, 2024, with her beloved daughter, Sandra, by her side. Born on May 6, 1925, to John Riley and Mary Elizabeth (Long) Shelton, Lois grew up on a farm near Crocker, Missouri, as one of eleven children in a close-knit family.

Lois attended Hickes School through the 8th grade and graduated from Crocker High School. She embraced her faith early in life, becoming a Christian on June 7, 1951, and was baptized at Tavern Creek. Faith and family were the cornerstones of her life.

Lois married the love of her life, Charles Dickey, on December 20, 1958, at Swedeborg Christian Church. Their marriage was a testament to love, partnership, and shared faith. Together, they raised their cherished daughter, Sandra, born in 1960. Lois faced health challenges early in Sandra’s life but persevered with strength and grace.

Throughout her life, Lois supported Charles’s ministry in several churches, including Milford and Jerico Christian Churches. The family moved frequently for Charles’s work, but Lois always created a loving home. After settling in Lamar, Lois worked at the Blue Top Motel while Charles devoted 34 years to Lamar Super Market.

Lois had a nurturing spirit, caring for children and sharing her love of family through annual reunions. She cherished her role as a grandmother figure to Marlie and Josie, whom she cared for in their early years. She was also a devoted fan of the Lamar High School Football team and even had a reserved parking spot by the stadium.

A devoted member of Milford Christian Church, Lois contributed to the church community with Sandra, who served as Children’s Director. Together, they enriched the lives of others through Bible camps, pet therapy at Barton County Memorial Hospital, and countless acts of kindness.

Lois’s life was filled with faith, family, and service. She is reunited in heaven with her husband of 52 years, Charles, and her parents who preceded her in death. She is also preceded in death by her siblings, Birley J. Shelton, Pearl Riggen, Louie Homer Shelton, Jewell Hannah, Wilbert Shelton, Veta Wrinkle, Dannie Shelton, Kenneth Shelton, Lester Shelton, and Greenberry Shelton.

Lois leaves behind her daughter, Sandra, cousin Benett Shelton and wife Rosalee of Tulsa, OK, good friend Peggy Phipps of Lamar, MO, and many nieces, nephews, and extended family members. Her legacy of love and faith will be carried on by all who knew her.

If you prefer to make a memorial contribution in place of flowers, the family suggests donations be made to Milford Christian Church in care of the funeral home.

Funeral services will be held on Monday December 23, 2024, at 2:00 PM at Milford Christian Church, with interment at Oak Grove Cemetery. 

The funeral home will be open on Sunday December 22, 2024 from 1 pm to 5 pm if you would like to pay your respects and sign the book. There is also a page in the after hours box located on the north side of the north driveway if you would like to sign the book without coming inside.

10 years ago a cousin interviewed Lois and wrote her life story.  It follows.  Enjoy.

Lois Marie (Shelton) Dickey and Charles Dickey

I was born May 6, 1925, to John Riley and Mary Elizabeth (Long) Shelton on a farm in Pulaski County, Missouri, about eight miles from Crocker. I was one of a family of eleven children, seven boys and four girls. We all went to the Hickes Scholl through the 8th grade. And we went to high school in Crocker for four years.

We worked on the farm with our parents and helped make the living. We went to the Pleasant Hill Church until the Concord Church became a Christian Church. The Concord was our church until we were married.

This is the way I met my husband, Chales Dickey. The minister at Concord, Brother Lee A. Todd, was a friend of Charles’s. They were buddies while attending Ozark Christian College in Joplin, Missouri. Chrales was the minister at Swedeborg Christian Church.

My minister, Brother Todd, introduced Charles and me. We started seeing each other after that. We were engaged September 20, 1958, and were married December 20, 1958, at the Swedeborg Christian Church. Brother Todd performed the ceremony. We lived in Crocker for a year. Then we moved to Lamar in 1959 where Charles worked for this brother-in-law at a filling station.

Our daughter, Sandra, was born January 7, 1960, at Barton County Memorial Hospital. I had a cyst. So, we knew we could only have one child. When Sandra was six weeks old, I went in for a checkup. I was taken from the doctor’s office to the hospital and had major surgery. I spent 12 days there before going home. We lived in an apartment until Sandra was two years old.

When Sandra was two, I needed to go to Crocker because my mother was sick. I rode the train. Before we got to Springfield, the train hit a cow which wrecked it. They took us on to Springfield. I called Billy Long. He came and got me and took me to Waynesville where my brother, Webb, met me. Then Webb took me to Mom and Dad’s. I spent a week taking turns caring for my mom. She passed away July 6, 1962.

Charles preached at Milford Christian Church for one year. We lived in Jasper, Missouri, for three years. Charles preached at Jerico for five years. He worked at the MFA Elevator until we moved to Walker where he worked at a tent factory. Sandra attended second grade at Walker. I worked at a shoe factory there for two years.

We moved back to Lamar in 1970. Charles for a job at the Lamar Super Market and I worked at the Blue Top Motel. Sandra was in the fourth grade. She went to school in Lamar until she graduated from high school in 1978. After she graduated, Sandra started working at the Barton County Memorial Hospital on August 6, 1978.

A new hospital was built, opening in 2007. It is a Planetree designated hospital and has a full load of patients most of the time. Sandra participates in pet therapy, taking her schnauzer dog, Laci, to the hospital for the patients to pet. Laci is a beautiful dog who loves people. Sandra is the spiritual director at the Hospital. The Milford church donated NIV large print Bibles to put in each patient room. Sandra and I put a large print Bible there in memory of Charles. We are so thankful the hospital allows us to do things like this.

Charels and Sandra and I lived on a farm for 14 years. Then, we moved back closer to town for two years. We bought a trailer house and lived in a trailer park for 18 years. After Sandra worked for the Barton County Memorial Hospital 11 years, she bought a house from the hospital. We sold our trailer and moved into her house. Charles worked for the Lamar Super Market for 34 years until it was sold, after which he retired.

I took care of two little girls, Marlie and Josie, for about four years. They were one and two years old when I started caring for them. I kept them until they were school age. They are now in the 6th an 7th grade, but still come and sit on my lap and hug me.

Charles and I celebrated our 50th wedding anniversary, December 20, 2008. We had two anniversary celebrations. The first was that summer at the Shelton Family Reunion. Then Sandra hosted a reception for our neighbors and family at her home.

Charles and I lived with Sandra until he passed away. Charles got Alzheimer’s about five years after he retired. When we couldn’t care for him a home, he had to be in the nursing home for four months and was in the hospital for 1 ½ weeks. He contracted MRSA and had a stroke. He passed away March 9, 2011. He was laid to rest tin the Oak Grove Cemetery on March 11.

Charles was born February 9, 1929, in Lansing, Kansas, and was the son of Orville and Lovornice (Rhodes) Dickey. He had two sisters, a brother who died as an infant, and a sister who was stillborn.

We enjoyed Charles’s ministry and also the 34 years he worked at the supermarket. As a family, we attended Milford Christian Church the last 20 years. Sanda is the Children’s Director. The church is a nice little country church which averages 277 to 297 in attendance. We have had about 80 children in Vacation Bible School.

Sandra and I take children to the Maranatha Bible Camp and Retreat Center near Everton, MO. People reserve the retreat center for conferences and vacations. The camp has swimming pools, zip lines, and games for entertainment. We attend ladies’ retreats there every fall.

I have enjoyed 89 years of life and being a Christian. I became a Christian June 7, 1951, and was baptized by Brother Farris Wall, minister of the Pleasant Hill Christian church, along with my sister, Jewell, and niece Glenda Shelton.

Sandra and I like planning for the family reunions held every other year at Brumley. In recent years, I’ve enjoyed using an iPad to check Facebook and keep up with friends and family.