Marlene (Hodges) Shelton, 86, of Democrat, Texas passed away Thursday, January 20, 2022. A visitation will be held at Heartland Funeral Home from 6:00 – 8:00 PM, Monday, January 24, 2022. The Funeral service will be held at the Rock Springs Church in Democrat, Texas, 10:00 AM, Tuesday, January 25, 2022 with interment to follow at the Dudley Cemetery in Democrat officiated by Dr. William Gregory Hodges M.D. and John Dudley.

Marlene was born October 10, 1935 at the John Bennett Aldridge home in Democrat, Texas to Clyde Ward Hodges and Elizabeth Marie (Aldridge) Hodges. She started school at the age of 5 at Duren and then attended Mullin in the second grade. She returned to Duren through the fifth grade and then finished her schooling at the age of 16 in Mullin. Marlene then attended Texas Tech University for one semester and decided it was too far from home and returned to Democrat. Marlene married Herbert Lynn Shelton on September 6, 1953 at Mullin United Methodist Church in Mullin, Texas. To this union were born four sons. Timothy Lynn Shelton, who preceded her in death, Tammy Lynn “TL” Shelton, Sam Bennett Shelton and Clyde Roy “CR” Shelton. She returned to college at the age of 35, received her Bachelor degree from Howard Payne University, received her Master degree from Tarleton State University in 1983. In 1986, she received her Superintendents Certification and became one of only 35 women superintendents in the state of Texas. She embarked on a career in education that spanned more than 30 years. After retirement, she enjoyed spending time with her children, grandchildren and great grand children while working and tending to her land and livestock in Democrat , Texas.

Marlene is survived by her three sons, Tammy Lynn “TL” Shelton and wife Melody of Comanche, Sam Bennett Shelton and wife Darla of Democrat, Clyde Roy “C.R.” Shelton and wife Lupe of Democrat; grandchildren and great grandchildren, Christina and husband Chris Pounds and their children, Mayson and Jackson of Duster, TX, Timothy and wife Jennifer Shelton and their children, Waggoner and Stryker of Democrat, TX, Sammy Shelton of Democrat, TX, Tiffany and husband Jimmie Wilmoth and their children, Traser, Brizan and Zoltan of Miami, TX, Jessica and husband Johnathan Schoenhals and their children, Trapper, Treagan and Johnna Kay of Democrat, TX, Bryan and wife Rachel Shelton and their daughter, Leona of Democrat, TX, as well as many nieces, nephews and friends.

Marlene was preceded in death by her husband, Herbert Lynn Shelton; son, Timothy Lynn Shelton, her parents, Clyde and Elizabeth Hodges; and two great grandsons, Baby Pounds, Tracker Gene Scott Schoenhals.

Online condolences, tributes and memorials can be shared with the family at www.heartlandfuneralhome.net.