Doris "Jean" (Shelton) Kerney

Doris Jean (Shelton) Kerney, 94, passed away at North River Health Campus, Evansville, IN on Sunday, November 24, 2024, after a long illness.

Jean was born in Sturgis, KY, to Elmer Ray and Ruby “Pauline” Shelton. She was a graduate of Evansville’s Central High School and Lockyear’s Business College, followed by employment with Bitterman’s Jewelers as a secretary. She later served as legal secretary for a San Antonio, TX, law firm during her husband’s posting with the US Air Force at Lackland AFB during the Korean Conflict. After returning to Evansville with her husband and their first son, she continued her second career of homemaker and was soon raising two sons.

Jean was an active 47-year member of Aldersgate United Methodist Church and previously a member of Old North Methodist Church. For many years, she enjoyed ballroom dancing with several Evansville dance clubs, boating on Kentucky Lake, playing Bridge, attending her sons’ and grandchildren’s activities, and sewing and quilting. She was an excellent seamstress and could make almost anything. Jean was also active in several civic clubs and organizations. In her younger years, she enjoyed camping with her family throughout the Midwest.

Jean was a loving wife, mother, daughter, sister, niece, grandma, mother-in-law, sister-in-law, and a good friend and neighbor. Her family would like to thank the staff of North River for their excellent care during the final years of Jean’s life.

She is survived by sons, S. Mark Kerney (Anne) and Keith T. Kerney (Melanie); grandchildren, Leslie Whitney (Nick) and Ryan Kerney (Breanna); great-grandchildren, Caleb and Olivia Whitney; niece and nephew, Judith and William Haack; a great-niece and two great-nephews; and sister-in-law, Marlene Shelton. 

Jean was preceded in death by her husband of 59 years, James C. Kerney; older brother, E. Ray Shelton; and an aunt and uncle, Herbert and Halene Vick, with whom she and her brother lived for several years as children.

Funeral Services will be held at 6:00 p.m., Sunday, December 1, 2024, at Boone Funeral Home East Chapel – A Family Tradition Funeral Home, 5330 Washington Avenue with Pastor Heather Foley officiating. Burial will be in Private at Locust Hill Cemetery.

Friends may visit from 2:00 p.m. until service time, Sunday, December 1, 2024, at Boone Funeral Home East Chapel.

Memorial contributions may be made to Aldersgate United Methodist Church at 5130 Lincoln Avenue, Evansville, IN 47715 or the EVSC Foundation at 951 Walnut Street, Evansville, IN 47713.

Boone Funeral Home is honored to serve the family of Jean Kerney. Condolences may be made to the family online at boonefuneralhome.net

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