Maxine Shelts

H. Maxine (Downs) Shelts, 98, of Camden, Illinois, passed away on Sunday, May 11, 2025, at 12:47 a.m. at Blessing Hospital in Quincy, Illinois surrounded by family.

She was born on August 4, 1926, the daughter of Marvin and Beula (Beam) Downs in Schuyler County, Illinois. She married Russell F. Shelts on January 21, 1946. He preceded her in death on August 1, 1998.

She lived on the farm that she and Russell bought in 1958, until moving to Country Gardens in March of this year, where she enjoyed the company of new and old friends. She was a Leader of Camden Good Neighbors 4-H Club for 44 years along with her nephew, Larry Shelts. She was a member of the Eastern Star, Be-Kik-A-Nin-EE chapter of The National Society of Daughters of the American Revolution, Camden United Methodist Church, former member of Western Illinois Tole Society and Camden area Canasta Club. She volunteered at the Schuyler Jail Museum and was on the Board of Directors.

Maxine enjoyed genealogy and made many books of family history for her family and others. She was everyone’s go-to for anything related to Schuyler County history and family genealogy.

She is survived by her son, Kevin (Cindy) Shelts of Camden; granddaughters Denise Shelts of Jacksonville, Kaycee (Eddie) Peterman of Rushville, and Kendra (Wade) Byran of Colchester; grandsons Jason (Tracy) Shelts of St. Louis, Missouri, and Michael Shelts of Jacksonville; great-grandchildren William Shelts, Emorie and Kaydee Peterman, and Elsie Brough; and step-great-grandchildren Easton and Hadley Bryan; her sister, Julia "Betty" Foster of Virginia formerly of Peoria, Illinois. Numerous nieces and nephews also survive.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Russell; sons, James and Dennis Shelts; her grandson, Will Shelts; two brothers and a sister.

Funeral Services for Maxine will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, May 16, 2025, at the Triplett and Wood Funeral Home of Rushville. Pastor Charla Meyers to officiate. Interment will immediately follow at the Brooklyn Cemetery in Brooklyn, Illinois.

Visitation will be held on Thursday evening from 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. at the Triplett and Wood Funeral Home of Rushville. Memorials may be made to the Schuyler County Farm Bureau Scholarship Fund Foundation or to the Brooklyn Cemetery.