| Shelby J. Harper, 87, of Sulphur Bluff died Monday night, April 30, 2018, at Mission Manor in Mount Vernon, Texas. Shelby was born February 26, 1931 in Franklin County to Zadie and L.S. Harper. He was a graduate of Sulphur Bluff High School, where he won a gold medal in the mile run at the state track meet. Shelby married Dixie Lynn Hare, who preceded him in death in March of 2017. Shelby was a rancher and loved working the land feeding his cows. He was a hard worker, tending to his cows until his hospitalization on December 26, 2017. When being interviewed for an article in a farming magazine, Shelby said “I was born to work.” Shelby was a past board member and past board president of The Production Credit Association and Agriland. Shelby is survived by his two daughters, Linda Owens and husband Donny of Mount Vernon and Kay Harper of Mount Vernon; grandson Les Owens and wife Kristi of Dallas and their children Sutton, Harper and Elle; and grandson Neely Owens of Ft. Worth. Also surviving are two brothers, R. M. Harper of Mount Vernon and Jerry Harper of [Kmham. He was preceded in death by his wife Dixie, and three sisters; twins, Iva and Viva Harper and Ruth Martin. Family visitation will be 5-7 p.m. on Wednesday, May 2, at Sam B. Harvey Funeral Home. Funeral services for Shelby will be held at 2 p.m. on Thursday, May 3, 2018, at Sam B. Harvey Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Gerald Hood officiating. Interment will follow at Fairview Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Alex Harper, Chad Harper, Glen Martin, Jimmy Harper, Mike Harper and Ryan Harper. Honorary pallbearers will be Dwyatt Bell, Harold Duke, Mike Griffith, Donnie Peters, Tommy Phillips, and Dee Wafford. Iti lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Cypress Basin Hospice, 207 Morgan Street, Mount Pleasant, Texas. |
