Virginia Marie Merchant

Virginia Marie Merchant, daughter of Junior and Carolyn (Smith) Shelton, was born May 9, 1962, in Malden, Missouri, and passed away on September 15, 2023, in the Kabul Nursing Home in Cabool, Missouri at 61 years of age.

Virginia spent her childhood helping out on the family farm, which is probably where her love for animals began.

Virginia met the love of her life, Stacy, in 1985 and that began their life together. They married in 1986 and had three children, Adam, Kory, and Jared. Stacy and Virginia spent their married life together in Green Mountain, Missouri. Virginia enjoyed spending time at the racetrack, going for car rides, and watching wildlife. She loved buying flowers and taking care of her chickens. She had many dogs over the years and loved each and every one of them. Spending time with her family made her the happiest of all. She was also on the Northern Wright County Fire Department for around fifteen years.

Virginia was preceded in death by her father, Junior Shelton, and one brother, Jesse Ray.

She is survived by her husband, Stacy of the home, her sons, Adam Merchant and his wife, Shilo, of Hartville, Missouri, Kory Merchant and Jared Merchant and his wife, Nancy, all of Mountain Grove, Missouri, five grandchildren whom she loved dearly, Isabella, Sophia, Mylee, Kayle, and JJ “Tinker”, her mother, Carolyn Shelton of Mountain Grove, two brothers, Robbie Shelton and his wife, Charity, and Joey Shelton and his wife, Ashley, one sister, Janet Jones and her husband, Tom, and many other people who will miss her greatly.