Joe Shell Jr.

Joe Shell Jr was born December 18th, 1927, in Rison, Arkansas to his parents Joseph and Willie Mae Shell. In his early years in Arkansas, he enjoyed hunting, fishing, and spending time with his sister Peggy Ann.

Eventually, Joe's time in the Navy took him to Houston, Texas where he met his wife of 63 years Sue. He took one look at her auburn hair, and he was hooked. They married on December 31, 1956, and settled down in Houston and then later New Caney, Texas, and had two children together, Wanda and Carol.

Joe loved the sea. After the Navy, he took a job working on tanker and cargo ships doing a multitude of different jobs. Eventually, he retired from the sea and settled down to work at the local O’Reilly Auto Parts store until he moved to Spicewood, Texas in 2018.

Joe loved his family and spent any time he had with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. His granddaughter Nikki remembers spending hours listening to him tell stories of his time at sea and stealing his Dr. Pepper when he wasn’t looking. He also shared his love of reading with her and his daughter Carol.

Joe is preceded in death by his parents Joe and Willie Mae Shell, son Joe Alan Shell, son-in-law Jimmy Watson, and his wife Sue Shell. He is survived by his daughters Carol and Lawrence Howard, Wanda Watson and husband L.T., sister Peggy Gandy, nieces Denise Ryan, and Kay Richards, nephew Arnold Gandy, granddaughter Nikki and Chris Daigle, Jim and Stacey Watson, Suzie, and Steven Muzyka. Great grandchildren Jacob and Megan Watson, Rebekah Watson, Thomas Watson, Sean Long, Sarah and Jacob Cummings, Hunter Daigle, Kaya Daigle, and Mallory Daigle.

Joe will always be remembered as a man who loved God, Dr. Pepper, and for random sayings like “Whose herding this turkey” whenever someone dared question his driving.

A Celebration of Life will be held at Spicewood Baptist Church on January 13, 2024, at 2:00 pm, where he was an active member.