Obituary of Milton T. Shelgren

Milton T. Shelgren, 85, of 126 Barker St., died at 5:51 a.m. Friday, January 21, 2011 in his home. He was born November 8, 1925 in Jamestown, a son of the late Milton and Elizabeth Ryan Shelgren. Milt was a World War II veteran, serving in the US Army from 1943 until his discharge as a Staff Sergeant in 1946. A 1943 graduate of Jamestown High School, he received his paramedics training at Jamestown Community College where he was a member of the first formal class to become paramedics. He earned his Bachelor's Degree from SUNY Fredonia as well as Degree with high honors in Fire Sciences from Erie Community College. Milt was a fire fighter for the City of Jamestown for 38 years, retiring as a Captain in 1991, and was very involved in the Morton Club. He also worked for 25 years part time in the print shop of the former Web Machinery Co. He owned and operated Milt Shelgren Photography in Jamestown and in later years, Affordable Photography with Charles Dole. For a number of years, Milt took the photographs for the Post Journal nature articles "Nature Walk" written by his late wife, Joyce Richards Shelgren. His love of photography, arts and crafts led to his receiving many awards and honors over the years. He was a member of the Chautauqua County Society of Artists and the Southern Tier Woodcarvers. His other memberships include the Audubon Society and its board, as well as the Jamestown Koinonia Community. He belonged to the Kiantone Congregational Church where he had served one term on the parish council. In later years, Milt enjoyed Elder hostels, including trips to Canada and Mexico and made yearly trips to the Smokey Mountains for the "Pilgrimage of the Wild Flowers". Many of his wild flower images were from this annual trip. All those who knew and met Milt loved him and his kind and gentle manner. Surviving is his wife, Audrey Everson McCool Shelgren whom he married May 19, 2001; a son, Paul Shelgren of Warren, Pa.; his former wife, Barbara Atwater Frances of Warren; two sisters, Carolyn (Dr. Richard) Wright of Fredonia and Joan (Everett) Swan of Ellery Center; step-children and step-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death in 1996 by his 2nd wife, Joyce Richards Shelgren; a son, Peter Shelgren in 2005; an infant daughter, Susan Snow Shelgren in 1951; and a brother, Robert Shelgren. The funeral will be held at 11:00 a.m. Tuesday in the Kiantone Congregational Church. The Rev. Mel McGinnis will officiate. Burial will be in Holy Cross Cemetery. Friends will be received from 7 to 9 p.m. Monday in the Lind Funeral Home. Memorials may be made to Hospice Chautauqua County, 20 W. Fairmount Ave., Lakewood, NY 14750.