David Wayne Shelton, age 59, of Coal Hill passed away on November 17, 2022, after a long and extremely courageous fight with cancer. He is survived by his wife and the love of his life, Brandy Reynolds Shelton; one daughter, who was the apple of his eye, Madison Mayes of Russellville, Arkansas, and her husband, Jonathan; his mother-in-law, Betty Bean of Coal Hill, Arkansas, and one brother, Jim Shelton, and wife Lori, of Searcy, Arkansas. He was also the proud uncle of two nieces, two grand-nieces and two grand-nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Glenn and Louise Shelton of Kensett, Arkansas and his father-in-law, Mike Reynolds of Coal Hill. He was a member of The Link Church in Hartman, Arkansas.
He graduated from Kensett High School in 1981 and received degrees in Agricultural Education and Agricultural Business from Arkansas State University. He was a manager of Shelton’s Restaurant in Kensett during the late 1990s. The establishment quickly became a local favorite. In 2001, he began his career at Tyson Foods where he was a maintenance supervisor at the time of his retirement.
From the time he was a little boy, horses and the outdoors were a large part of his life. In 1976, he was able to participate in one of the Bicentennial Wagon Trains making their way across the country. He rode a bull in a rodeo. Once. Briefly. He was a NASCAR fan and a Razorback fan. But most of all, he was a good man who maintained a deep faith in God, a loving, faithful husband, and a wonderful father. David and Brandy loved watching Madison play basketball and softball and participate in horse shows aboard his beloved old horse, Peppy. He was so proud of her when she graduated from Arkansas Tech University this spring to become a teacher and coach.
Hardwicke Funeral Home of Clarksville is in charge of arrangements. A graveside service will be held on Tuesday, November 22, at 2:00 p.m. at Hess Cemetery in Coal Hill. David Willis will officiate the service with Paul Brasel, Rodney Holland, Randy Aday, Eddie Lindsey, Gary Scott, and Wayne Miller serving as pallbearers.