Mary Shelton

Mary Ownbey Shelton, age 76, of Forest City, passed away February 7, 2020 at Laurel Woods Assisted Living in Columbus, NC.

Mary was born March 5, 1943 in Rutherford County to the late Marvin Ownbey and Mary Jane Teseniar Ownbey. She was a caring person who ministered to others as a nurse mainly in nursing homes for forty years. Mary always showed compassion toward her patients. She also had a great sense of humor and was well loved. Mary enjoyed playing games and spending time with children of all ages.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by a granddaughter, Miranda Watson; sister, Carolyn Price and a brother, C.J. Ownbey.

Those left to cherish her memory include two daughters,, Maria Radford (Greg) of Forest City and Carmen Garren of Chesnee; two sons, Calvin Watson (Polly) and Tony Watson (Patricia) all of Rutherfordton; two brothers, Edward Ownbey (Kaye) and Kenny Ownbey (Sharlene) all of Forest City; three sisters, Martha Freeman (Bill) of Sunshine, Ruthie Di Maria of Charlotte and Ruby Roberts of Matthews. She is also survived by three grandchildren, Megan Rollins (Christopher), Ryan Talley (Amanda Marlow), Luke Watson and great grandchild, Kaden Talley.

The funeral service will be conducted at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, February 9, 2020 at the Harrelson Funeral Chapel with Reverend Ernie Cole officiating. Interment will follow in Rutherford County Memorial Cemetery. The family will receive friends one hour prior to service time at the funeral home.

Memorial donations are requested to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, www.stjude.org or the Shriners Hospitals for Children, www.shrinershospitalsforchildren.org