Shelby Jean Unsel Joles entered this world on August 5, 1936 and stepped into Glory on December 3, 2025.
She was born in “the East Cairo River bottoms” where her family made their home until flooding moved them to Wickliffe. Shelby lived all but a few years in Wickliffe—leaving only to pursue better work opportunities. However, her love for her home and family drew her back to Wickliffe.
Besides her beauty and quick wit, Shelby was known for her love of working. In her prime, she could outwork anyone. The phrase “idle hands are the devil’s workshop” was written for Shelby. She worked at numerous places such as Snowers, Tele-Service and many others throughout her life. Her last place of employment was at Hillhouse Naturals in Wickliffe.
When Shelby wasn’t at a paying job, she could be found cleaning her house, doing yard work or inventing jobs to do. Shelby once commented, “I’ve done a little of everything. I’ve worked everywhere. But I’ve always liked and enjoyed every job I ever had.”
Shelby met Robert Joles, the love of her life, in 1954. Shelby was a beauty and could dance like Ginger Rogers…Robert was a handsome man who could match her step for step. Several pursued her, but it was always Robert who held her heart. Together they had two sons of whom they were so very proud.
Shelby loved her family fiercely. She might say something negative about them but she had best not catch anyone else saying something against any of them or they would be on the receiving end of a tongue lashing they would never forget. Shelby only saw the good in her children and grandchildren and great grandson. She loved them all without question and in a way only a momma can.
Jim Unsel, Shelby’s father, donated the ground and helped to construct Southside Missionary Baptist Church where she was a member. When Shelby’s health no longer allowed her to attend church, she enjoyed listening to “old” broadcasts of Billy Graham. She also enjoyed listening to old fashioned (as she called it) gospel music.
Shelby leaves behind her two sons; Greg and his wife Brenda; Scott and his wife Stephanie; Three grandchildren, Emily, Reece and Rachel, one great grandson, Wyatt, a loving sister, Donna, as well as extended family members Sonny and Susan Sullivan. Shelby is also survived by a special nephew, Kevin Unsel and other nieces and nephews. Donna Weaver lovingly helped to care for Shelby in her final months and the family wishes to formally thank her. The family also wishes to thank “Shug” and her other Hospice caretakers for making this passing easier.
Shelby was preceded in death by her husband, Robert Joles; her parents, Jim and Eula Unsel; her brothers, Buddy Unsel and Richard Unsel; her sisters, Mary Hawley and Thelma Madding and an infant sibling, Roberta, and a special nephew, Robert Keith Hawley.
A funeral service will be held at 12:00 p.m. on Saturday, December 6, 2025, at Milner & Orr Funeral Home of Wickliffe, with Bro. Guy Johnson officiating. Burial will follow at Barlow Cemetery in Barlow, Kentucky.
Visitation will be held from 10:00 a.m. until the service time of 12:00 p.m. on Saturday, December 6, 2025, at Milner & Orr Funeral Home of Wickliffe.
The family requests in lieu of flowers that donations be made to St Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105, or to Gideon’s International. P.O. Box 10, Kevil, KY, 42053.
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