Margaret Beth Shelton, born July 20, 1931 to Leland and Vivian Short, passed away July 2, 2023 surrounded by family at her home.  She grew up in Chicago, Illinois with her parents and five brothers and met her lifelong love Jack Shelton while he pursued a journalism degree at the University of Central Arkansas.  They married in 1950, and after a few moves settled into the Texas panhandle to grow a prosperous set of small-town newspapers.  Their successful career finale came with founding a commercial printing business in Weatherford, Oklahoma. Margaret was well known as the best typesetter in the business.  Together they raised two daughters and a son and enjoyed a life of family love, productive work and vibrant Christian faith.  They sold the company in 1989, and retired to Arnold, Maryland to enjoy traveling, gardening, grandchildren and church activities. Margaret moved to Oakland, Maryland with her daughter Susan after Jack passed away in 2015, and in 2022 they moved to Saint Augustine, Florida.

Margaret was an extraordinary seamstress from an early age and blessed her family with priceless pieces of crochet, embroidery and cross stitch.   Reflecting a deep affection and respect for their families' heritage, she and Jack worked tirelessly researching and documenting the family's genealogy, a labor of love that filled more than 10 books with history, letters, pictures and memorabilia.

She was preceded in death by her parents and brothers. She is survived by her daughter Becky West from Checotah, Oklahoma and her husband Bill; daughter Susan Smith in Saint Augustine, FL; son Jack Shelton and his wife Wanda in Ham Lake, Minnesota; grandson Erick Reimers and his wife Mindy Walkingstick of Guthrie, Oklahoma; grandson Matthew Smith and his wife Angie of Kingsville, Maryland; granddaughters Amanda Sroka and Margaret (Maggie) Smith, both of Saint Augustine; granddaughter Laurel Brandt and her husband Joshua of Kasson, Minnesota; and granddaughter Madison Anderson and her husband Steven of Shafer, Minnesota.

The following great grandchildren were blessed to call Margaret "Nanny":  Erick's daughters Summer Reimers, Sarah Aebischer (husband Devin), and Abigail Reimers; stepdaughter Kayla Colter; and stepson Dylan Nottingham.  Matthew's sons Jacob, Lucas and Jamison and daughters Hailey and Anniston, stepchildren Aly, Amaya, Landon and Hudson.  Amanda's daughters Emma, Brooke and Camden.  Maggie's daughters Leah and Ellie (Hassett).  And most recently, "Nanny" was pleased to learn that she would become a great-great-grandmother to Sarah and Devin's baby in February.

Those who knew Margaret are comforted by knowing that she is with Jack, the love of her life, in the presence of their Savior.

All services will be private.