Martha Louise Speed Shelton

Martha Louise Speed Shelton passed away on July 7, 2025 at her home in Lone Oak, Kentucky.  She was 93 years old. 
 
Martha was born on March 20, 1932 in Graves County, Kentucky.  She was a lifelong resident of Graves and McCracken Counties.  Her parents were Henry Gilbert Speed and Bessie Lloyd Bradley Speed of Mayfield, Kentucky.
 
Martha married at the young age of 16.  One year later, she became a mother to her oldest daughter, Sherry.  She fully embraced being the wife of a farmer and raising her daughter.  It can be a hard life with all the work that farm life brings, but she never backed away from anything that would result in bringing her family comfort and provision.  She was an excellent homemaker and helpmate to our dad.  The family grew to include twin girls, Susie and Saunie, and then Amanda. 
 
Along with the love of her family, she was privileged to have the love of many in the community.  Our mother showed her love and care by cooking for family and friends.  She worked at K Mart for a few years where she garnered even more lifelong friends who were the recipients of her great cooking.  Martha was especially known for her chocolate pies.  Our mother had countless requests to make pies for family, friends and church gatherings.  Grandchildren asked for her homemade desserts in lieu of presents.  She loved being a grandmother.  Nothing excited her more than a new baby to love and care for.
 
Martha was a true Proverbs 31 mother.  She was up early and to bed late cooking, sewing, and caring for her family was her greatest joy.  Mother loved God, family and friends all her life.
 
Martha is survived by her four daughters, Sherry Shelton Hixon of Mayfield, Kentucky, Saunie (Mike) Rothwell of Paducah, Kentucky, Susan (Jim) Lewis of Paducah, Kentucky, and Amanda (Rick) Orr of Murray, Kentucky; 12 grandchildren, Clint Hixon, Holly Pierson, Matthew Lewis, Michelle Hardin, Elizabeth Lewis, Andrea Bliss, David Rothwell, Christina Montgomery, Candice Burgess, Lee Cole, Madelyn Carpenter, and Ricki Lee Orr; and 16 great-grandchildren, Lacey Hixon, Chase Hixon, Ian Lewis Hardwitt, Lukas Lewis, Gannon Harris, Alexander Hosick, Jackson Rhodes, Kynli Burgess, Kyler Burgess, Alliyah Turner, Addison Turner, Amya Baldree, Easton Barger, Cash Cole, Tripp Carpenter, and Blaire Carpenter.
 
Mrs. Shelton is also survived by Billy Houser of Cupertino, California, who considered Aunt Martha as his Kentucky mother, as well as many special cousins, nieces and nephews.
 
She was preceded in death by Creston Harding Shelton, her loving and devoted husband of 67 years.  She is also preceded in death by her parents; siblings, George Speed, Curtis Speed, Lou Mae Speed Price, Ardie Speed, Ruth Speed Gargus, Stanley Speed, Edward Speed, and Jenny Speed; and by one great-grandson, Bryan Gabriel Turner.
 
A memorial service will be held at 1:00 pm on Wednesday, July 9, 2025 at the Lone Oak Chapel of Milner & Orr Funeral Home, with Rev. Mike Rothwell officiating.  A private graveside service will be held at a later date.
 
Visitation will be from 11:00 am until the service time of 1:00 pm on Wednesday, July 9, 2025 at the Lone Oak Chapel of Milner & Orr. 
 
Expressions of sympathy may take the form of contributions to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St Jude PL, Memphis, TN 38105 or to Autism Speaks, PO Box 37148, Boone, IA, 50037.
 
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