Joan Maria Shelby

Joan Maria Shelby, 88, of Fort Smith, died April 10, 2018 in Fort Smith. She was born June 19, 1929 in Fort Smith to Walter John and Mary Frances Hazel Flaherty Saylor. Joan retired from Mercy Hospital as an RN, a nurse anesthetist, and discharge planner, and she was a member of St. Boniface Catholic Church.

She is survived by three daughters, Rosemary and husband Allen Haulk of Greeley, Iowa, Barbara and husband Bill Neas of Fort Smith, and Linda and husband Ray Gaines of Lavaca, AR; three sons, James Shelby of Van Buren, Larry and wife Linda Shelby of Fort Smith, and Patrick and wife Marcella Shelby of Charleston, AR; one sister, Zella Richards of Fort Smith; seventeen grandchildren; and nephew, John and wife Carol Richards of Tulsa, OK. She was preceded in death by her husband, Wayne Bernard Shelby and two sons, Kenneth and William Shelby.

Rosary will be Friday, April 13, 2018 at 5:00 PM in the Edwards Funeral Home Chapel and Mass will be said on Saturday, April 14, 2018 at 10:00 AM in St. Boniface Catholic Church with burial to follow in Holy Cross Cemetery, all under the direction of Edwards Funeral Home.

Pallbearers will be Connor Richards, Corey Richards, Jordan Shelby, Dustin Shelby, Chance Shelby and Alex Neas.

The family will greet friends at Edwards Funeral Home from 5:30 – 6:30 PM following the Rosary.

Memorials may be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, 539 Lane Avenue, Memphis, TN 38105.

To sign an online guestbook visit www.edwardsfuneralhome.com