Helen M. Shelton

</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[Helen M. Shelton, 77, went to be with the Lord at 5:02 a.m. on Thursday, Sept. 10, 2009, at VIP Manor in Wood River.

She was born on Feb. 3, 1932, in Eldorado, the daughter of Joseph Thomas and Eva May (Cletcher) Grant.

She married Roy V. Shelton on Dec. 17, 1950, in Eldorado. He survives.

Helen was employed as a bookkeeper for the Bennet Auto Supply Company in Granite City for 30 years, retiring in 2001. She was a member of the Bethalto Church of God, where she played the piano and the organ and was a Sunday school teacher for 35 years. She loved to spend time with her family, friends and especially her great-grandchildren.

She is survived by one daughter and son-in-law, Karen and Donald Phillips of Wood River; five grandchildren and their spouses, Erin Phillips, Amber and Ben Ellis, Adam and Taryn LeGette, Adam Phillips and Alicia Neal; five great-grandchildren, Erica, Emalee, Adaline, Milla and Taylor; seven brothers and sisters and their spouses, Chloe and Calvin Denny of South Roxana, Flo Headrick of Richland, Wash., Sylvia and Don Beasley of Brighton, Rosalie and Donnie Tucker of Bethalto, Dale and Lynnette Grant of South Roxana, John and Judy Grant of Pekin and Kathy and Ed Douglas of Norris City; one brother-in-law, Richard and Sandra Shelton of Michigan; one sister-in-law, Melba Ramsey of Eldorado; mother-in-law, Clara Phelps of Harrisburg; and many nieces and nephews and great-nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; one infant son, James Roy Shelton; and one brother, Harold Wayne Grant.

Visitation will be from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday, Sept. 14, 2009, at the Bethalto Church of God.

Visitation will continue from 9 a.m. to service time at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2009, at the Bethalto Church of God with Pastor Jeremy Robinson officiating.

Memorials may be made to Debt Retirement at the Bethalto Church of God.

Graveside services will take place at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday at Wolf Creek Cemetery in Eldorado.

Local arrangements are in charge of Colonial Terrace Funeral Home in Eldorado.

Condolences may be made to the family at the Internet site www.colonialterracefuneralhome.com.