Viola Cornelia Shellhorn

Viola Cornelia Shellhorn, age 87, of El Dorado Springs, died Aug. 21, 2005.

She was born in Lexington, Mo., on May 8, 1918, the daughter of John E. and Nellie Mills. Viola's father died in the flu epidemic in 1918 when Viola was 8 months old. Her mother then married David Smitson when Viola was 3 and they moved from Lexington to Independence, Mo.

During the Great Depression, her family moved from Independence to a small farm south of Olympia store. It was at a community party that she met her future husband, Jessie Christian Shellhorn Jr. They were married on March 6, 1940.

Junior and Viola bought a farm south of Montevallo and lived there until they retired and moved to El Dorado Springs in 1974.

Viola was a member of Campers on Mission, driving her recreational vehicle to many sites to help with the latest church campground project. She was a talented artist and charter member of the El Dorado Springs Arts and Craft Club. She loved doing crafts for vacation Bible schools, chalk talk drawings, painting in oils, acrylics and watercolors and giving the paintings as gifts.

Viola was saved and baptized at the Montevallo Baptist Church but later transferred her membership to the First Baptist Church in El Dorado Springs. For all who knew Viola, they knew she loved the Lord and lived each day to its fullest even in her last days greeting and visiting those who came to see her.

Viola is survived by two sons, Raymond (Shirley) Shellhorn, of Independence, Mo., Robert (Sue) Shellhorn, of Grain Valley, Mo.; two daughters, Rosalee (Rick) Bogart, of Carl Junction, Mo., and Rhonda (Jerry) Friar, of El Dorado Springs; 12 grandchildren, Stacy Shellhorn, Kevin (Julie) Shellhorn, Karri (Bob) Walls, Colby (Christi) Stewart, Jon (Megan) Shellhorn, Todd Shellhorn, Reggie Bogart, Allison Bogart, Austin (Jamie) Morgan, Ashley (Jeremiah) Cartwright, Logan Friar and Sydney Friar; 10 great-grandchildren, Jessica, Amanda, Taylor, Mackenzie, Bailey, Hallie, Payton, Jackson, Brooke, Axton; and one very special kitty, Missy. She was preceded in death by her parents and her husband.

Funeral services for Viola Shellhorn will be held on Saturday, Aug. 27, at 10 a.m., at the First Baptist Church in El Dorado Springs. Interment will be in the El Dorado Springs Cemetery under the direction of the Hackleman and Sons Funeral Home.

The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Friday from 7-9 p.m.

Memorial contributions may be made to the First Baptist Church Building Fund or to Campers on Mission.