David Neil Shellabarger

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David Neil Shellabarger, 67, of Mexico, died Sunday Dec. 27, 2020. He was born Dec. 1, 1953 in Audrain County at Audrain County Hospital, in Mexico, to Gene and Eugenia (Kothe) Shellabarger.

David grew up on the family farm, The Circle S Acres, along with his sisters, Dawn, Gina, Julie and Sara. David enjoyed riding his pony and driving the pony cart with his sisters waiting for their turn to ride with him and had fun building their tree house. He was very active with the Hisey Hoppers 4-H club, feeding, training, grooming and showing his hereford and angus cows, raising hogs and crop farming. In the summertime David bucked bales, set pipe for irrigation and made new friends when the time for detasseling the seed corn came.

David loved playing his alto saxophone in the Centralia Middle and High School bands and later with the Fulton Community Band. David graduated from the Centralia High School class of 1973. He spent many years working for the Kingdom Projects Inc. in Fulton.

He is survived by his mother, Eugenia Shellabarger of Mexico; four sisters, Dawn (Jeff) Hedberg of Camdenton, Gina (Jonathan) Whitesell of Thompson, Julie (David) Fielder of Springfield, and Sara (Aaron) Sydow of West Plains; Uncle, Ray (Carolyn) Kothe of Baton Rouge, La.; nieces and nephews; Rachael (Tom) Marler, Greg (Hilary) Hedberg, Suzanne (Ray) Finlay, Hannah (Robbie) Kirkland, John Fielder, Grace Sydow and Sophia Sydow, as well as four great-nephews and two great-nieces.

David was preceded in death by his father, Gene Shellabarger; grandparents, Jacob and Grace Shellabarger, and Leo and Lilly Kothe. David was baptized and confirmed in his faith at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Mexico. David was a spiritual man and wanted everyone to know Jesus because of God’s grace given to him.

David enjoyed his first car, a red Mustang convertible, then later his red Dodge Charger. David was a guy with a big heart, intelligence and hearty laugh, in which you can still hear him say, “Oh, golly gee”. David enjoyed being one of Santa’s helpers for many years and many locations. This he passed along to his sister Sara. Material things in life didn’t matter much to David, he enjoyed having fun, eating a nice home cooked meal and boy could he put it away!

Private family service officiated by Rev. Donaldo Sonntag, held at Arnold Funeral Home with burial at East Lawn Memorial Park in Mexico.

Memorial donations may be made to St. John’s Lutheran Church, Mexico MO. They may be sent in care of Arnold Funeral Home, 425 S. Jefferson Mexico, MO 65265.


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