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Jimmy D. Shelburn Feb. 20, 1945 ~ Feb. 14, 2013
February 06, 2013, 9:03 am by Staff Reports
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He was born Feb. 20, 1945. He was a fun loving, friendly family man. You would rarely see him without a smile, (unless of course he ran out of cigarettes or couldn’t find the remote). He loved to laugh and make others laugh. He loved were camping, hunting, fishing and watching football. He was an outdoorsman and chose a career path that allowed him to work with nature a lot of the time rather than being stuck at a desk all day.
His firstborn, son Paul, gave him a great deal of enjoyment hunting alongside him and watching him play football – the sport Shelburn loved so much. As his health declined, Paul would help his dad hunt as Shelburn had helped him when he was a little boy. Three years later he was blessed with a daughter, Didi.
He said that he didn’t quite know what to do with because she was a girl – so he chose to spoil her rotten – making sure that Cathy changed all her diapers and stating he had no intention
of changing a baby girl’s diapers. He was proud to see her grow up to be a mother and wife, and to see her living out the values he tried to teach her. His grandchildren and great-grandchildren
brought him a lot of happiness, coming along at different times in his life over 24 years giving him purpose and a reason to keep pressing on.
The greatest story of his life was truly a romance that lasted 47 years. After only a 6 months courtship, and at 21 years of age, he married his young bride, Cathy, who was only 18. She worked while Jimmy finished his last years in college, earning his degree at Texas Tech. They had a fun-filled life, dancing, canoeing, fishing, camping, 4-wheeling and all kinds of activities.
Shelburn loved to push her buttons and Cathy loved his warm hands. They took on the responsibility and the joy of having children, and raised them together in Canton as he worked for the USDA as District Soil Conservationist for Van Zandt County from 1975 until 1998. He was then forced a medical retirement due to poor health. Cathy had a beauty and tanning salon in Gun Barrel City and he helped her in her salon for ten years until 2008. The Shelburns always found
time to have fun together, love each other and show the world their devotion to one another.
He is survived by wife Cathy Shelburn; son Paul and wife Nikki Shelburn; daughter Didi and husband David Feagin; grandchildren Heath, Summer, Courtney, Myranda, Chance, Schuyler, and Ethan; great-grandchildren Preston, Payton and Caisyn; brother Neil and wife Billie Shelburn; sister Donna and husband David Nantz; and many nieces, nephews and other relatives.
Shelburn was preceded in death by his father and mother Donald and Jean Shelburn; and great granddaughter Charlotte Faith Rodriquez.
His passing came after 34 long years of battling major health problems. His family feels blessed and comforted to know that he is no longer suffering and can finally rest in peace.
A Memorial Service will be held at the Eubanks Funeral Home in Canton on Saturday, Feb. 23 at 1 p.m.
220 South Main St., Burnet, TX 78611 - Phone: (512)756-6136