Karen W. Shelton
Karen W. Shelton
63 of Austin, Texas passed away unexpectedly on March 18, 2021 while traveling to her father’s 91st birthday celebration. Memorial service was held at Bethany Lutheran Church in Austin, TX on Saturday, April
10th. Karen was born in Albuquerque, New Mexico on 3/29/1957. She graduated from Manzano High School in 1975 where she was active in the Manzano drill team. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from New Mexico State University in 1980. While there she was active in the Pi Phi Soroity.
Karen was married to Bill Shelton 7/13/1985. They were married for 36 wonderful years. Karen, after obtaining her Bachelor’s Degree was hired as assistant store manager for K-Mart in Las Cruces, New Mexico. In 1982 she was promoted to store manager in El Paso, Texas. Then in 1984 she was promoted to open a new division of a K-Mart called Designer Depot in Houston, Texas. She opened 4 stores while in Houston. Then in 1985 she was sent to Austin, Texas to open more Designer Depots for the KMart Organization. Then in 1986 she was offered a position to remain in Austin by Solo Serve Corporation. She was very successful and was the only female store manager of 22 stores, which made us all extremely proud. She enjoyed music, especially playing her piano of which she passed her love down to her sons and many other kids. She enjoyed scrapbooking. She loved gardening and sitting out by the fire pit while listening to all her favorite music. After transitioning from store manager to home maker, she became a loving kind full time super mom. A position she really relished. She was actively involved in PTA and many community and charitable organizations. She loved to travel many times down to South Padre Island at their family condo with the boys and all their many friends. She enjoyed the mountains during the winter for skiing and viewing the Olympics in Salt Lake City and as usual with all her boys. The Shelton household was the house that was the welcoming home for all of the kids and their parents.
Karen is survived by her husband, Bill A. Shelton, first born son Tyler Reid Shelton, her father ,age 91, Thomas Jefferson Williams Jr. (TJ) her mother Carolyn W. Belanus, her brother Craig D. Williams and her sister Sandy Tevis, Sandy’s daughter Tao and her son Tevis and Stepsiblings Debra Lou Malanify, Ileen Molloy, William Kilgore, Judy Rieman and their spouses. Karen was proceeded in death by her son Colton Bryce Shelton, age 29 years young. Of which we pray she is at peace an is reunited with her baby boy, Coley Bear