Shelby R. Stapleton

Shelby R. Stapleton, 90, of Amarillo, Texas went home to be with his Lord on July 23, 2026. He was born on September 5, 1935 to T. S. and Anna Mae Stapleton in Petersburg, Texas. The family moved to Plainview, Texas when he was a boy where he attended school from elementary to senior high. He graduated from Plainview High School in 1954. While in high school, he was a member of the basketball team that went to the Texas State Championships in 1954 finishing in 4th place.

His future wife, Patsy Shearer, was also a graduate of Plainview High School. Their first date was to the end-of-season high school sports banquet and they were virtually inseparable after that. They married in October 1956 and embarked on a life together for the next 65 years. After marriage, the couple moved to Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan where Shelby was stationed while serving in the Army. They returned to Plainview in the spring of 1957. They had two children - a son Dale and a daughter Diane.

While in Plainview, Shelby worked as an engineer for Stapleton Bros., a family owned business making irrigation systems to support the agribusiness industry in the Panhandle and West Texas. In 1972, he and the family moved to Amarillo where he worked for Amarillo Gear Company. While at Amarillo Gear, he and his team were primarily involved in the design of industrial pumps and cooling systems. He retired in 1999.

Throughout his adult life, Shelby’s family and church were his personal priorities. He and Patsy were faithful members of the Central Church of Christ in Amarillo where they served in a number of ministries and support programs. Shelby proudly served as an elder at Central from 1998- 2006.

Shelby is survived by his son, Dale Stapleton, of Dallas, Texas, nieces and nephews as well as very special friends, John Todd and Kami Cornett of Amarillo and their children Ellie, Brock and Grant. He is proceeded in death by his wife Patsy, daughter Diane, sister Fern Pittman and brother Tom Stapleton.

A celebration of Shelby’s life will be held at the Central Church of Christ in Amarillo on Monday, July 27 at 11:00 a.m. Arrangements are by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors, 2800 Paramount Blvd.

The family would like to thank the nurses and staff of The Ware Living Center for their excellent care and support during Shelby’s last months. For those wishing to make memorials in honor of Shelby, the family requests they do so by donating to The Medical Center League House in Amarillo or a charity of their choosing.