Brody Shelby, 9


Brody Shelby, 9

Brody Shelby, 9, of Gainesville, died Oct. 31, 2021, at his family’s home due to a malignant brain tumor. 

He was the son of Bobbie Jo Shelby and the step-son of James Walley Jr., a member of the Theodosia Area Volunteer Fire Department who has also served with other Ozark County VFDs. Following Brody’s death Sunday evening, a procession of vehicles from Theodosia Area and Gainesville Volunteer Fire Departments, Ozark County Ambulance and the Ozark County Sheriff’s Department escorted his body as it was transported from the family’s Spring Creek-area home to Clinkingbeard Funeral Home in Gainesville. Upon arrival, firefighters, EMS and sheriff’s department personnel lined the driveway as Brody was taken into the facility 

A memorial  service will be held at 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 13, at Grace Baptist Church on Highway 160 west of Gainesville. The service will conclude with a firefighter bell service and end of watch radio call. 

Brody, whose story was reported in the Ozark County Times last year, was first diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor in 2015 when he was 3. After treatment at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, the cancer was in remission until March 2020, when the brain tumor recurred. During treatment at Mercy Hospital in Springfield last December, Brody was recognized as an honorary firefighter with the Springfield Fire Department. 

Later, back in Ozark County, personnel and vehicles from Ozark County fire departments and other emergency services escorted Brody and his family as they made their way from their home to Gainesville before departing for another round of treatment at St. Jude in Memphis.

Memorial contributions may be made in Brody’s name to the Chris Hope Foundation, 516 Tennessee St. #416, Memphis, TN 38103. A full obituary will be published in the Nov. 10 edition of the Times and posted on the Ozark County Times Facebook page when available.

Ozark County Times

504 Third Steet
PO Box 188
Gainesville, MO 65655

Phone: (417) 679-4641
Fax: (417) 679-3423