Eli Marvin Shelley

Eli “Marvin” Shelley passed on unexpectedly but softly Jan 14, 2022 in Marble Falls, Texas holding the hand of his beloved nephew, Mike. Mike was playing I’ll Fly Away & praying for his mother, Marvin’s adored sister “Bea”, to help him cross.

Marvin was born Dec 8th, 1931 in Marble Falls, Texas to Eli Martin & Lena “Kroll” Shelley. The youngest of 6 children (Beatrice “Bea”, Garth, Sara, Billy Jo, Alonzo “Pete”) Marvin soon earned the nickname “Squirrel” for his love of tree climbing. His fierce love of nature & impeccable work ethic were honed from an early age exploring creek bottoms, caring for injured wildlife & helping his family as hardworking sharecroppers in & around Burnet County. By adult age he could identify most any native plant or animal. He started to read early sparking a lifelong curiosity & passion for reading & learning. After his mother’s untimely passing when Marvin was just 7 he was ultimately “adopted” by his older sister Bea & her husband Tom Lucksinger & raised alongside their 7 children Tom “Shelley”, Mary Catherine “Kakie”, Ron, Anita “Sue”, Michael “Mike”, Martha and Nancy in Austin, Texas. There he attended St. Ignacious middle school & then St. Edward’s high school.

After graduating high school he joined the Air Force with his brother Pete, thereafter earning his Bachelors degree from University of Houston.

Marvin had numerous jobs in his life from working at a drugstore in downtown Austin to assisting a silversmith in Los Angeles. He finally settled in the insurance claims industry where he progressed from Adjustor to Regional Claims Manager. His kids have fond memories of tagging along with him on weekend investigations into auto accidents, property fires & other insurance claims.

In 1958 Marvin met the love of his life Sylvia Ramsey Branscum in Bellaire, Texas as part of a group date to a UT football game in Austin. During that date both he & Sylvia realized they had each met their future spouse (even though Sylvia’s date on that trip was not Marvin).

Marvin & Sylvia married in 1958. After several years in New Orleans they settled in Houston to raise their family.

They both worked hard to build a good life for their family with Sylvia as a school teacher & Marvin in insurance claims. After retirement they moved to Marble Falls.

Marvin’s gentle, selfless nature carried on post retirement where he spent much of his time in numerous volunteering positions. A lifelong blood donor he also served as a substitute teacher in MFISD, catechism instructor at St. John’s church. In addition he served on Meals on Wheels board of directors & delivered meals for many years. He was also a hospice, CASA, & suicide prevention hotline volunteer.

Over the years Marvin was a calm, kind influence on his friends & played a major role in his children & grandchildren’s lives. Nothing delighted him more than spending time with his grandchildren.

Marvin is survived by son Steven Shelley, daughter Elizabeth Tadlock, grandchildren Rachel Solov, Kayla Shelley, Brodin Tadlock, Reed Shelley, Jacob Tadlock, great grandchildren Eli, Ezra, Ezekiel, & Elena Tadlock, daughter-in-law Lori Shelley, daughter-in-law Michelle Tadlock, Sister-in-law Kathleen Shelley, nephews Tom, Ron, & Mike Lucksinger, John, Matthew, Garth, Tom, & Joe Shelley, Bobby & Phillip Young, Dave Webb, nieces Kakie Sawyer, Sue Petrick, Martha Field, Nancy Atkins, Linda Jo Cole, Terri Webb, Kay Egerton, Gail Booher, Ruth Ann Christison, Mary Shelley and best friend Dr. Gordon Preston.

Marvin’s funeral service will be Wednesday, January 19, 2022, at 1:00 pm at Clements-Wilcox Funeral Home in Marble Falls with a brief 2:30 graveside service at Round Mountain Cemetery.

Visitation will be 5:00 - 7:00 pm Tuesday, January 18, 2022. Per Marvin’s request, a rosary for him will be included during visitation beginning at 6:15 pm for those wishing to participate.