Finis Shelden

November 14, 1947 - October 24, 2021

Finis Shelden was born on November 14, 1947 in Hooker, MO to the late Finis and Ruby (Dunn) Shelden. He died on Sunday, October 24 in Anchorage, Alaska at age 73 due to complications from a stroke. Junior, as he was known to his family, was the oldest of 12 kids and took the role seriously, giving help and encouragement to his siblings when needed. Upon graduation from Waynesville High School, he took an early interest in serving the community while staying with his Uncle Jess and Aunt Mary and attending college in Rolla, MO. Together, they helped raise funds and served meals at the Lions Club. In Rolla, he met Sharon Battley and on February 11, 1967 they were married. They were blessed with 54 years of marriage. Soon after they were married, Finis enlisted in the United States Air Force. He was stationed in Anchorage in 1967 and was honorably discharged after four years of service. Together, they raised a son, Tracy, and daughter, Lillianne. With all the opportunities in Alaska at the time, he opted to study business at the University of Alaska Anchorage. He was the first in his family to graduate from college. Finis worked in the banking industry before starting his own real estate and construction business. First as an ERA agency and then as Finis Realty & Service Co., he built and sold many single and multi-family homes in the Anchorage and Chugiak-Eagle River area. His true passion was giving back to his community and charitable service. Finis held countless leadership positions in professional, fraternal, and service organizations including Lions Club, Jaycees, Pioneers of Alaska, The Forty and Eight, American Legion, Chugiak Senior Center Foundation, and Chugiak Area Business Association. Finis was a proud veteran and American whose favorite holiday was the Fourth of July. This was most evident as he spearheaded the Chugiak-Eagle River July 3rd Fireworks Celebration, dressing as Uncle Sam and sometimes securing military flyovers. He often drove the Grand Marshall in the Chugiak 4th of July Parade. He arranged for the Boy Scouts to have flags displayed in Eagle River on Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day, and Veterans Day. Finis worked with elected officials to erect the “Welcome to Chugiak” signs on the Glenn Highway, helped coordinate Thanksgiving and Christmas community dinners and food baskets, and maintained the Peters Creek flower bed. His persistence paid off when working on special passion projects such as raising funds for a new sound system at the Mac Center, thermal imaging fire helmets for the Chugiak Volunteer Fire Department, and the Blood Bank of Alaska facility to name a few. He traveled to Africa, Australia, The Bahamas, Japan, Europe, many of the United States, and loved showing visiting family his home in Alaska, often on a whirlwind tour. He enjoyed drinking ice tea and once shared a glass with President Carter in the White House. Finis loved Sharon’s home-cooked meals as much as dining out or simply going for a drive together. He enjoyed following the news, car shows, catching up with family, and would strike up a conversation with anyone, anywhere. You could count on Finis to support a fundraiser, make a friendly wager (often choosing the underdog), pick up a hitchhiker, pay his respects, or help anyone in need. His competitive streak really showed when playing pool or croquet. While he suffered a heart attack in the ‘90s, his deepest heartache was his son’s passing in 2003. He leaves to cherish his memory, his wife Sharon; daughter Lilly (Joe) Kelly; six grandchildren: Dylan Hermes, Savanna Shelden, Sabrina Shelden, Shoshannah Shelden, Seth Shelden, and Tyler Kelly; siblings: Phillis “Sis” Hilburn (Lynn), Edwin Shelden (Irene), Mike Shelden (Sherri), Roy Shelden (Sharon), Andy Shelden, Sharon Kay Harrop, Mark Shelden (Melissa), Barb Shelden, Nadina Walters (Frank), and Freddie Shelden; sister-in-laws Kathii Shelden and Mary Norton (James); brother-in-law Richard Battley; daughter-in-law Stephanie Gaiser; a number of nieces and nephews; as well as a host of other relatives and friends. In addition to his parents and his son, he was preceded in death by his brother William “Jerry” Shelden and mother-in-law Mary Battley. A graveside service with military honors was held on November 6, 2021 at Aurora Cemetery in Wasilla, Alaska. A celebration of life will be held on July 4, 2022 at noon at the Shelden family home in Devils Elbow, Missouri.