of Conway, AR

April 19, 1927 - November 16, 2025

Ova Lee Shelby, 98, beloved by family, friends, church family and hundreds of former students, passed away peacefully in her sleep in the early hours of November 16, 2025. Born and raised near Bee Branch, Arkansas, she was the youngest of eight children. She was preceded in death by her parents, Ed and Myra Jones; her brothers, Troy, Claude and Ben Jones; sisters, Lula Northcutt, Eula Gummin, Beulah Arnold and Bertha Ward and her husband, Irvin Shelby, Jr.

Mrs. Shelby graduated as the valedictorian of the class of 1943 of Southside High School. She married Jr. Shelby November 13, 1945 in San Francisco when he returned stateside from serving in the Navy during World War II. They came home from California for the funerals of their parents, Irvin Shelby, Sr. and Myra Jones in the spring of 1946 and never returned to California, living the rest of their lives in Conway, Arkansas. They both worked at the International Shoe factory for some years. At the age of 30, Mrs. Shelby began studies at ASTC (University of Central Arkansas) in elementary education. After graduation she taught fifth grade at Ida Burns for 27 years. She was a charter member of both Brumley Baptist Church and New Hope Baptist Church. She was Church Clerk for many years and taught Sunday School for 50 years. She was a Group Leader in Bible Study for 13 years. She set us all a wonderful example of a godly woman, which we can only hope to emulate.

Survivors are daughter, Dolores Treadway; grandsons, Matt (Suzanne) Rogers and Grant Rogers; great-grandchildren, Rayleigh and Gavin Rogers and several nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be from 6pm to 8pm on Friday, November 21st at Roller McNutt Funeral Home in Conway. Funeral Services will be held at 10am Saturday at New Hope Baptist Church with burial following at Quattlebaum Cemetery in Bee Branch.

 

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