Shelby Lefler was born on January 2, 1952, and passed away peacefully on October 15, 2025, at the age of 73.Shelby, a lifelong resident of the greater St. Louis area, was an incredible soul whose love for life and family shone through everything he did. He enjoyed fishing with his brother Mike and their parents, golfing on sunny afternoons, and spending time at the casinos with friends-where he was always a winner. His close circle of friends, many of whom had been by his side for more than 45 years, were like family to him. Shelby cherished all of his relationships deeply and often reminisced about the laughter and memories they shared. He was a proud fan of the St. Louis Cardinals and St. Louis Blues; if there was a game on, you could bet Shelby was tuned in-either on TV or the radio.Shelby dedicated nearly 40 years of service to St. Louis County, working as an inspector and surveyor. He was known for his strong work ethic, meticulous attention to detail, and commitment to doing things the right way. Above all, he will be remembered for his kindness, honesty, and easygoing nature that made everyone love him.Shelby is survived by his sister-in-law, Frances Jane Lefler; nieces, Donna Dobbins and Karen Martin (husband, Danny); and many great-nieces and nephews, including Jason, Nathan, and Nicholas Dobbins; Matthew Martin (children, Rowan, Eleanor, and Maverick); Marshall Martin (wife, Makenah, and son, Atlas); Michael Martin; Casey Elliott (husband, Philip, and children, Solomon, Salem, and Eden); Andrew Hahn (wife, Kirstin); Lucas Hahn (wife, Samantha, and children, Genevieve, Cameron, and Samuel); and Grace Hahn. Each of them held a special place in Shelby's heart, just as he will forever hold one in theirs. Shelby was preceded in death by his parents, Les and Dorothy Lefler; his brother, Micheal Lefler; his niece, Linda Hahn; and his nephew-in-law, Kevin Dobbins.Visitation will be held at J.B. Smith Funeral Home on Thursday, October 23, 2025, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon, followed by a funeral service at 12:00 noon. A graveside service will take place immediately afterward at Oak Grove Baptist Church Cemetery in Lonedell, Missouri.