Charlene Nickle Shelor, 91, died Sept. 5.  Born in Loco, Okla. on Oct. 31, 1922, she was the daughter and ninth of 10 children to Robert D. and Callie (Cain) Nickle, including brothers Manuel, Leonard, J.W., Gerald, Donald, and sisters Lucille (Miether), Retha Bell (Orr), Beattie (Rue), and Bobbie (Mack).
She married Marion E. Shelor in Wichita on Oct. 27, 1943.  They had four sons,  Michael Edward, Robert  Swanson, Richard Mark and Nickle Wayne.  She had six grandchildren (Michele, Brandon, Melanie, Matthew, Ryan and Courtney) and four great-grandchildren (Sophie, William, Franka and Brady).
She graduated from Loco High School and attended Central State College in Edmond, Okla. and Dodge City College, in Dodge City, and received teaching certificates in both Oklahoma and Kansas.
She was active in the United Methodist Church, serving at Bloom, Minneola, and Trinity United Methodist Church in Great Bend, including serving as Conference President of the United Methodist Women for the Kansas West (Central Kansas) Conference.  She headed the Missionary Education Tour (MET) and was active in many local, district and conference committees and youth services.
She was active in the League of Women Voters and other volunteer groups and was instrumental  in starting the first Alzheimer’s Support Group in Great Bend.  
In addition to occasional work outside the home, she pursued many hobbies, both practical and artistic, including cooking, sewing, leather working, sand candles, wheat weaving, writing and painting.  She was also a member of the Barton Hills Golf Club.
Survivors include her sons, Michael of Phoenix, Ariz., Robert of Ojai, Calif., her grandchildren and great grandchildren, numerous nieces and nephews.  Also surviving are sisters-in-law Laura Carlson of Dodge City, Pat Shelor of Ingles, and Roberta Shelor of Topeka.  She was preceded in death by her parents, brothers and sisters, husband, Marion, and two sons, Richard Mark and Nickle Wayne.
Special thanks from the family to Leroy and Anna Faye Hensley, Loreda Wagner and other members of Trinity United Methodist Church for their support and friendship.
Funeral service will be Thursday, Sept. 11 at 11 a.m. at Bryant Funeral Home, Great Bend, with Pastor Julie Shields officiating.  Interment will be at Maple Grove Cemetery, Dodge City, at 3 p.m.  Visitation will be from noon to 9 p.m., Wednesday, Sept. 10, at Bryant Funeral Home, with the family receiving friends from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m.
Memorials suggested to American Ex-POW Organization or Trinity United Methodist Church, in care of Bryant Funeral Home.  Condolences may be sent and notice viewed at www.bryantfh.net

Funeral arrangements by    
Bryant Funeral Home**    
1425 Patton Road    
Great Bend, Kansas    67530
The Great Bend (Kans.) Tribune, Sept. 7, 2014