Raymond “Ray” Joseph Shelley

Raymond “Ray” Joseph Shelley, age 81, of Mena, Arkansas, went to be with the Lord on Friday, December 2, 2022, at the Baton Rouge General Medical Center in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He was born on Friday, February 28, 1941, to Frank and Clarice Shelley in Norwich, Connecticut.

Ray served proudly in the United States Air Force as Military Police. He served the City of Mena alongside a wonderful group of officers for 15 years and retired as Chief of Police.

Ray was a spiritual man of the Catholic faith and let the Lord guide his life. He was an avid writer of the Old West and a talented artist and woodworker. Ray enjoyed acting on stage and at home. He was a lifetime member of the Association of Chief of Police, and he belonged to Lawbreakers and Peace Makers Old West Reenactment Group.

He was a very humble and proud man. Ray had a good sense of humor and never met a stranger. He had a gift for gab and was a great storyteller and hard worker. He loved his family very much and was always there for them. Ray was a wonderful and loving husband, dad, brother, brother-in-law, grandfather, great-grandfather, uncle and friend.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Frank and Clarice Shelley; three infants, Mary Catherine, Kevin, and David Ray; son, Michael Shelley; brother, Frank Shelley; brothers-in-law, Jim Piechoki, Michael Laing, and Bill Stewart; and one sister-in-law, Eileen Rosenbaum.

Ray is survived by his loving wife of 59 years, Peggy Shelley of Mena; two sons and daughter-in-law, Kevin Shelley, and Keith and Linda Shelley; two daughters and son-in-law, Debbie Shelley, and Denise and Gerard St. Pierre; grandchildren, Allison and Matt Hughes, Katherine and Jake Taylor, Michael, Matthew and Brennan Shelley, Darren and Amanda, Dustin and Christina, Londyn St. Pierre, Lakyn and Mikey Evans; great-grandchildren, Adam, Mason, Bryce Hughes, Huntleigh, Kinslee, Audrey Taylor, Brantley Shelley, Drew, Caden, Austin, Kenzie, Noah, Hudson St. Pierre, Miley, Owen Evans; two brothers and sisters-in-law, Tom and Terri Shelley, and Dennis and Maria Shelley; one sister, Joan Piechoki; and his faithful companion, Clyde Shelley; numerous nieces and nephews and a host of other relatives and friends.

A funeral mass will be held on Saturday, December 10, 2022, at 10:00 AM at the St. Agnes Catholic Church in Mena, Arkansas, with Father Joseph Shantiraj as celebrant. A rosary service will be held on Friday, December 9, 2022, from 6:00-8:00 PM at the Bowser Family Funeral Home Chapel in Mena, Arkansas. Cremation arrangements entrusted to Bowser Family Funeral Home in Mena, Arkansas.

In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made in Ray’s honor to the American Legion Veteran Organization in Polk County, Arkansas, at 3253 Highway 71 N, Mena, AR 71953.

Online Guestbook: www.bowserffh.com

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Ethan Nahté

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