Maynard Myers Shelly

Maynard Myers Shelly

Maynard Myers Shelly, 84, of North Newton died Friday (Aug. 7, 2009) at Kidron Bethel Health Care in North Newton.

He was born on Feb. 3, 1925 on a farm in Milford Township, Bucks County, Pa., to Howard and Emma (Myers) Shelly, the first of nine children who lived past infancy. He was baptized in the West Swamp Mennonite Church (Quakertown, Pa.) when he was 15 years old. After graduating from East Greenville (Pa.) high school, he earned a degree from Bluffton College (Ohio) in 1945.

Maynard married Griselda Aurora Gehman on Sept. 7, 1945, in Upper Milford Mennonite Church, Zionsville, Pa., in the same week he began seminary studies in Chicago. He graduated from Mennonite Biblical Seminary with a bachelor's degree in 1949 and with a master's of divinity in 1983 and served as pastor at Boynton Mennonite Church (Hopedale, Ill.) from 1946 to 1949 and First Mennonite Church (Allentown, Pa.) from 1949 to 1955.

In 1955, he moved to Newton to serve as the assistant executive secretary of the General Conference Mennonite Board of Education and Publication (1955 to 1961), and then became editor of The Mennonite, the weekly publication of the GC Mennonite church from 1961 to 1971. He and his wife served a term with Mennonite Central Committee in Bangladesh from 1971 to 1974 and helped to implement a wide-ranging development program with refugees following the 1970 cyclone and the war between East and West Pakistan.

Upon their return to Newton, Maynard began a 10-year stint as a freelance writer, working on scripts for MCC films, writing Sunday school curriculum for both youth and adults and their teachers, as well as writing news articles for Christianity Today, Christian Century and other publications. He also authored New Call to Peacemaking (1979) and a four-volume Bible survey course called Discovery (1984). From 1984 to 1990, as general editor for the Commission on Education of the GC Mennonite Church, he oversaw the publication of 25 books for Faith and Life Press, the church bulletin service, the Foundation Series for youth and other projects.

After retirement in 1990, Maynard continued writing Sunday school curriculum and worked on writing the history of the West Swamp Mennonite Church, of which his family has been a part for more than 275 years. Failing health prevented the completion of that project.

Maynard was an active member of Bethel College Mennonite Church and during the years, served as editor of the church newsletter, member of the education commission, and chairman of the usher committee. He was a lifelong advocate for physical fitness - riding his bicycle to work in his business suit during the 1950s and later in the 1970s running in marathons in Wichita, Lawrence, Kansas City and Houston.

Survivors include his wife, Griselda Gehman Shelly of Kidron Bethel Health Care in North Newton; his son, Javan (and Sue) Shelly of Cincinnati, Ohio; two step-grandsons, David and Douglas; and two step-grandchildren, Lindsey and Katelin; his brothers and sister, Howard (and Marilyn) Shelly from Bluffton, Ohio, Alton (and Els) Shelly from Goshen, Ind., Sterling (and Alma) Shelly from North Newton, and Marjorie Nester from Normal, Ill.; four sister-in-laws, Edna Shelly of Harleysville, Pa., June Shelly of Newton, Helen Shelly Neufeld of Abbotsford, British Columbia, and Betty Shelly of Bluffton; 27 nieces and nephews; and many other extended family members and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his brothers, Raymond (infancy), Irwin, Kenneth, Ralph, Walter and Karlton (infancy); a sister-in-law, Carol Shelly; and a brother-in-law, Don Nester.

Visitation will be from 1 to 9 p.m. Monday at Petersen Funeral Home in Newton, with the family receiving friends from 6:30 to 8 p.m.

There will be a private burial service at Greenwood Cemetery.

Memorial service will be at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at Bethel College Mennonite Church in North Newton.

Memorials may be sent to Bethel College Mennonite Church or Mennonite Central Committee (Central States).