Mildred Shell

On the bright and beautiful morning of Wednesday, July 3, 2024, Mildred Dorathea "Bess" Shell left this earth and went home to be with Jesus.

She was born to Ephraim and Dorathea Mabuce Bess just north of Marble Hill on her parents' farm.

Mildred graduated from Lutesville High School in 1938 and attended Southeast Missouri State University before working for the ASC office in Marble Hill. In November 1942, she married George Howard Shell in Reno, Nevada, at the beginning of World War II.

During the war, she worked as a caseworker for Bollinger County Welfare office and the AAA office. After Howard returned from the service, he and Mildred owned and operated the IGA grocery store at Lutesville until 1950. In 1959, they purchased Sunset Floral Shop and ran it until 1968. After retiring from the floral shop, Mildred also worked for Bollinger County Bank and Lape's Bernina sewing shop in Cape Girardeau.

Mildred was quite active in a number of community organizations, both locally and throughout the state. At the time of her passing, she was a member of First Baptist Church of Marble Hill, actively participating as church organist, former head of the kitchen committee and Sunday school teacher, a member of the GFWC Marble Hill Study Club and a member of the board of directors for the Bollinger County Health Center.

As if that weren't enough to keep busy, Mildred loved gardening and canning and sewed most of the clothing for her family. She was an expert cook, crafting delicious dishes from what she had in her kitchen, a skill learned during her life during the Great Depression. Most recently, she had her own business creating and selling potholders for local businesses.

Mildred is survived by her daughter, Dotta Roberts; grandson, Brian (Francine) Shell; stepgranddaughters, Kelly (Paul) Austin and Mandee (Mark) Flores; great-grandchildren, Parker and Campbell Shell, John Paul (Sarah) Austin and Lewis Austin, and Mandee and Maddox Flores.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Howard Shell; son, Jack Shell; son-in-law, Larry Roberts; and her parents.

Visitation for Mildred will be from 3 to 8 p.m. Friday, July 12, at the First Baptist Church Family Life Center in Marble Hill, with funeral at 11 a.m. Saturday, July 13, also at the church. Burial will be at Baker Cemetery immediately after the service.

Mildred was one of a kind, a shining light in the Bollinger County community. She was a blessing and inspiration to all who knew her, and she will definitely be missed.

Hutchings-Pendergrass Funeral Chapel is assisting the family.