Henry John Shelley

07.23.24 – 12.19.13

He was a doted-on only child who grew up across from Clay Square, where he always won the Duncan Yo-Yo competitions. “H.J.” played trumpet in the Redemptorist band and hung out at a teen club, where he was the snazziest dancer. His favorite partner was a blonde with pretty legs nicknamed “Starr” who matched him step for step. Unlike the other girls who swooned over him, Starr easily resisted his fancy moves off the dance floor because she thought he was conceited.

Right after Pearl Harbor, 17-year-old H.J. enlisted in the Marines. He was sent to Camp Pendleton and made a bugler, but he hated getting up at dawn to play “Reveille” so he blew the call lying in his bunk. He first saw action during the bloody invasions of Saipan and Tinian in 1944, where he received a citation for making himself a target by repeatedly running ammunition from the beach to forward gun positions. In 1945, his unit in the Fourth Marine Division was among the first to hit the sands of Iwo Jima. Those who fought that legendary battle inspired the poignant phrase – “Uncommon valor was a common virtue.”

After the war, H.J. danced at the disco of his day – the riverboat “President” where he ran into Starr. She said she married him because “he was always waiting on my front porch to inform other dates that I was his girl.” She remained his girl for over 65 years – until her passing in 2011. They had five children – Angela [“Angel”], Steve, Chris and twins Scott and Nick. He held them on his shoulders at countless Mardi Gras parades and danced with Starr at the balls at Municipal Auditorium. He was a true New Orleanian who loved seafood and made the world’s best oyster stuffing.

When the Saints came to town, he bought season tickets for the family and kept them for decades – never missing a game. After his sons joined the John Curtis football team, he paced the field at daily practice and sat in the stands an hour before kickoff on game nights. When he “crabbed” at his boisterous teenaged sons and their friends, the kids started calling him “Crab” – the only name many people know him by.

Like most of his generation, he worked for just one company – the Illinois Central Railroad. After retirement, he played golf constantly. He was well into his 50’s before anyone could beat him at arm-wrestling. At age 80, women lined up to dance with him at the Treasure Chest Casino.

His loss marks the passing of yet another member of “The Greatest Generation” – who’ll be missed forever by his children and their spouses: Will, Sue, Charlotte, Kelly and Shelley, 7 grandchildren and several great grandchildren. Online condolences can be expressed at www.tharpsontheimer.com. Friends are welcome at a ceremony on Saturday, January 11th, 2014 at 11 a.m. at Greenwood Cemetery at the foot of Canal Street. Follow the signs.