Eugenia Louise Shellabarger, 92, of Mexico, passed away on Saturday, June 28, 2025, at The King’s Daughters Home.
 Memorial services will be held 10 A.M. on Friday, July 18, 2025, at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Mexico, Missouri.
 Eugenia was born on December 14, 1932, in Glasgow, the daughter of Leo and Lilly (Gebhardt) Kothe. On June 1, 1952, she married Gene L. Shellabarger who preceded her in death. Eugenia contributed 40 years as a dedicated farm wife. She and Gene were lifelong members of St. John’s Lutheran Church.
 Eugenia and her husband Gene shared a life full of love, adventure, and community. Gene’s role on the REC Board of Directors took them to many places, with two of their favorite trips being to San Francisco and a memorable journey to Hawaii in 1983. Though Eugenia was a shy girl growing up, marriage transformed her into part of a fun-loving, social couple. She had a natural talent for organizing and hosting, with a deep love for cooking and sharing food. Eugenia taught cooking and sewing classes to young girls in 4-H, edited local fundraising cookbooks, and contributed many cherished recipes. A memorable highlight in Eugenia’s life was being selected as a guest test cook for a new canning cookbook and featured farm wife in Farm Journal Magazine. She was flown to Philadelphia for a week, where she was treated like royalty, a once-in-a-lifetime experience that she cherished deeply.
 Together, she and Gene enjoyed square dancing, playing cards, and making new friends wherever they went. After retiring, Gene and Eugenia enjoyed spending their winters in Mission, Texas, where they became beloved members of the Wagon Wheel South retirement community. As snowbirds, they cherished the warm weather, the welcoming atmosphere, and the many lasting friendships they formed there. Their warm, welcoming home was always open to friends and family, creating lasting memories for all who knew them.
 Survivors include four daughters, Dawn (Jeff) Hedberg of Camdenton, Gina (Jonathan) Whitesell of Thompson, Julie (David) Fielder of Springfield, Sara (Aaron) Sydow of West Plains; seven grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren, Rachael (Tom) Marler and son T.J., Greg (Hilary) Hedberg and children, Gradon, Annalee and Graham, Suzanne (Ray) Finlay and children, Lila and Jack, Hannah (Robbie) Kirkland and son Carter Joe, baby girl due in October, John Fielder, Grace (Hayden) Green, Sophia Sydow; one brother, E. Ray (Carolyn) Kothe of Baton Rouge, Louisianna.
 Eugenia was preceded in death by her husband, Gene L. Shellabarger; one son, David Shellabarger; her parents, Leo and Lilly Kothe; one brother, Quentin Neil Kothe.
 The family requests memorial donations be made to The King’s Daughters Home in Mexico. Memorials may be sent in care of Arnold Funeral Home, 425 S. Jefferson, Mexico, MO 65265.
 Online condolences may be left at www.arnoldfh.com.