CHARLESTON -- Kermit W. Shelby, 72, of Karnak, Ill., died Wednesday, March 5, 1997, at Lourdes Hospital in Paducah, Ky.

He was born April 6, 1924, at Morley, son of Robert Paul "Bob" and Hallie Watson Shelby. He and Francis Johnson were married June 7, 1947.

Shelby had lived in Karnak since 1962. He retired from Electric Energy Co. at Joppa, Ill., in 1988. He was a member of First Baptist Church at Karnak, and former member and deacon at New Bethel Baptist Church near Charleston.

Survivors include his wife; three sons, John Shelby of Metropolis, Ill., Leslie Shelby of Brandon, Miss., Randy Shelby of Orlando, Fla.; a daughter, Jane Bryant of East Prairie; a brother, Bob Shelby of Memphis, Tenn.; seven sisters, Hazel Strickland of Florissant, Maxine Hill of Sikeston, Freda Kensey of Marion, Ill., Dora Bomar of Jackson, Verna Scheffer of Austin, Texas, Joy Sellers of Encino, Calif., Jo Whitehead of Emporia, Va.; and eight grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by a brother.

Funeral service will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at McMikle Funeral Home in Charleston. The Rev. Shawn Wasson will officiate, with burial in IOOF Cemetery.

Friends may call at the funeral home Saturday from 11:30 a.m. to service time.