Beloved Husband, Father, Grandpa, Son, and Big Brother Ray was born on May 27, 1949 to Cecil Ray Shelton, Sr. and Elizabeth Hicks Shelton in Paxton, Illinois. After graduating from McLeansboro High School in 1967, he attended Freed Hardeman College where he met the love of his life Cynthia "Cindy" Kay Creel. After graduation, they were married in Meridian, Mississippi in 1969. They briefly lived in Mississippi and then Illinois, where he attended Western Illinois University. Eventually, they settled in Memphis, TN where he worked as a Medical Technologist in the chemistry lab for a local hospital.
He soon discovered that he had a passion for computers and his education at Memphis State University where he graduated in 1986 with a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering. Throughout his life, he never stopped learning or trying to improve his knowledge base. He always encouraged his children and then grandchildren to “work hard” and “apply yourself.”
Ray was an active member of the Bartlett Woods Church of Christ and volunteered to provide security during church services to ensure everyone’s safety. His hobbies and interests included his family, being a Ham Radio operator, watching any Star Trek or Star Wars TV show or movie, playing chess, and always seemed to be trying to revive a broken or outdated computer.
Ray is survived by his wife of 54 years, Cindy; brother, Timothy Randall “Randy” Shelton; son, Matthew Shelton (Regina); daughter, Melanie Roman (Radu), and 5 grandchildren: Triston, Raymond, Corbin, Luke, and Jack.
Ray was preceded in death by his parents, Cecil Ray Shelton, Sr. and Elizabeth Hicks Shelton.
"Those we love don't go away; they walk beside us every day."
Rest in eternal peace, dear Ray. You will forever remain in our hearts.
A gathering of family and friends for Cecil will be held Friday, July 7, 2023 from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM at Memphis Funeral Home and Memorial Gardens, 3700 North Germantown Parkway, Bartlett, TN 38133, followed by a memorial service from 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.MemphisFuneralGermantownParkway.com for the Shelton family.
