Shelby Jean Hite was born in Marked Tree, Arkansas in 1941. She was the oldest of 6 children and viewed her role as such with pride.
Early in Shelby’s life, her family moved from Arkansas to Collins Park, NM. The family worked in the logging industry, and a large number of Shelby’s fascinating life stories revolved around her time growing up in the remote New Mexico countryside. The family later moved to Reserve then to Socorro, NM where Shelby graduated from high school and where she met the love of her life, Alfred Hite.
Shelby and Alfred were married in 1959 and quickly embarked on their great adventures together in Grants, NM. They built a home, dedicated their work to numerous ventures, and eventually started their own business, ASH Transportation. They raised two sons, Lee and Nolen. Shelby was known by all as an exceptionally hard worker. She was fearless – equally confident to hop behind the steering wheel of a gasoline tanker or pitch a business deal to executives for large oil companies. Shelby was rarely idle and lived “larger than life” with a fierce and loving spirit. She took great pride in her family and truly loved taking others “under her wing.”
Shelby passed away peacefully on Sept. 9, 2023 in Las Cruces, NM surrounded by family.
She was preceded in death by her parents: Opal and Cly Tee, and her husband, Alfred. She is survived by her sons: Lee (Tina) Hite of Bosque Farms, NM, and Nolen (Karin) Hite of Las Cruces, NM as well as the “apples of her eye,” her three grandchildren: Amanda (Butch) Hale, Lauren Hite, and Marshall Hite. Shelby is also survived by all of her siblings: Ruth (Harold) Hampton, Glinda Dunn, Johnny (Janet) Grinder, Marline Bratzel, and Jimmy (Francis) Grinder as well as numerous nieces and nephews.
A memorial service for Shelby will be held Saturday, September 23, 2023 at 11 a.m. at Grace Baptist Church in Milan, NM.
In lieu of flowers the family suggests donations be made to the Alzheimer’s Association.