James Gardner Shelden, 89, Osawatomie, died Thursday, Nov. 23, 2006 in Olathe Medical Center.

Known as "J.G." he was born Oct. 23,1917, in El Dorado, Kan., the youngest of the two children of James Thomas Benjamin Shelden and Vera Velma Taylor Shelden. When he was in the first grade, he moved with his family to Osawatomie. He was a 1936 graduate of Osawatomie High School.

While still in high school, he worked part time as a meat cutter for Safeway in Osawatomie. Later he managed the meat department in Safeway stores in Kansas City, Kan., and St. Joseph, Mo.

He and Marie Evelyn Skeens were married Aug. 25, 1940, in the First Christian Church in Osawatomie. They became the parents of two children.

In 1942 he moved back to Osawatomie and begain working as a brakeman for the MIssouri Pacific Railroad. On Jan. 10, 1960, he became a conductor and retired in June 1978 with 36 years of service.

Mr. Shelden was a worker in the local First Christian Church for many years. He became an elder at the age of 19 and was honored in February 2003 for his 66 years as an elder.

His other memberships included the National Association of Retired and Veteran Railway Employees, Osawatomie Historical Society, Osawatomie History Museum, the Grief Support Group and United Transportation Union. He was a charter member of the Osawatomie Golf Association.

He took special joy in his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Those preceding him in death included a sister, Dorathy Hartford,

Survivors include his wife, Marie Shelden of the home; two daughters, Lougene Marsh of Emporia and Martha Gail New of Grapevine, Texas; four grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.

Services were Sunday in the church. Burial was in Osawatomie Cemetery.