Dean Shelton

Dean Shelton was born June 29th, 1926, in Springfield, Colorado to Jesse and Lillie (LeVeque) Shelton. He departed this life January 22, 2020, at Southeast Colorado long term care center in Springfield at the age of 93. Dean loved to farm starting as a boy with his dad and 5 brothers.

Dean graduated from Pritchett High School in 1944 and was drafted into the army soon after to serve in World War II. He served in Italy as a staff sergeant. He always remembered crossing the Atlantic on a troopship at the beginning of his service and his plane landing in Iceland on his return home.

Before he was drafted, he met Dixie Smith who had moved to Pritchett following her graduation in Belle Plaine, Kansas. She came to Pritchett with her parents Charles D. and Ella Mae Smith, who had bought the Pritchett drugstore. They became engaged upon his return from service and were married March 2, 1947, and were happily married for almost 73 years. They loved to dance and spent many hours dancing, even to the jukebox in the drugstore.

Dean and Dixie spent their lives in Pritchett, Colorado except for a stint in Manitou Springs, Colorado and Belle Plaine, Kansas. They had 3 children Jennifer, Zephern, and Scott. They were always involved in the kids’ activities from school to 4H and everything in-between.

In addition to a lifetime of farming, in 1959 he was appointed postmaster of the Pritchett Post Office, a position he held for 30 years. He retired from the Post Office in 1989 and continued to farm. After retirement, he and Dixie took a number of trips around the country. They enjoyed league bowling and also square dancing, where they made many new life-long friends. Dean was a member of the United Methodist Church in Pritchett until its closure when he transferred his membership to the Springfield United Methodist Church.

Nothing made Dean happier than spending time with his children, grandchildren, and more recently his 3 great-grandchildren. They all adored their Papa Dean and his antics that always made them laugh.

Dean is preceded in death by his parents, Jesse and Lillie Shelton, 3 yr old sister LaVeta, his brother Doyle and wife Mildred, and sister-in-law Patsy Shelton. He was also preceded in death by his great-grandson Casey Gale Everett.

Dean is survived by his wife of 72 years, Dixie, his children Jennifer (Terry) Everett, Zephern Shelton and Scott Shelton. He is survived by grandchildren: Heidi (Bryan) Schockey, Casey (Laneha) Everett, Dane (Sally) Everett, and Natasha (Vince) Liguori. He was blessed with 3 great-grandchildren Jacob Liguori 13, Sophi Liguori 11, and Audy Everett 3 months.  He is also survived by brothers Wayne, Dave and (Patty), Don, and Dale. He is also survived by his sister Sandra Shelton as well as a number of nieces and nephews.

As an expression of sympathy, memorial contributions are suggested to go to the SECHD Long Term Care Center in Dean's memory. Mail directly to 373 E. 10th Ave, Springfield, CO 81073 MEMO: Dean Shelton Memorial or by way of the funeral home.