Elizabeth Shelton (Beth) Hiler

Elizabeth Shelton (Beth) Hiler passed away on Thursday, August 24, 2023, at the age of 92. She was born June 15, 1931, to Ada Lillian Umphres and Ruel Eldridge Shelton in Pearsall, Texas.

She was the granddaughter of early Texans Alice Cornelia Gray and William E. Shelton of Frio County and Laura Elizabeth Edwards and Lee R. Umphres of Live Oak County.

After graduating as valedictorian of her senior class, Beth became secretary and bookkeeper of the Pearsall Independent School District. On July 2, 1949, she married James H. (Jim) Hiler, and they made their home at the Hiler Ranch in Frio Town and later in Pearsall. Beth and Jim had two sons: James H. Hiler, Jr. (Jay) and Mark Lee Hiler.

Beth's interests were Pearsall's First United Methodist Church, her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. She spent many years painting the beauty of the Southwest that she loved. She had been a member of the governing board of the Texas Arts Alliance, the Coppini Art Group, and a regular exhibitor at the Western Art Show, the Bright Shawl, the River Art Show, in San Antonio. Her paintings hang in Heto Rey, Puerto Rico, San Antonio, Dallas, Uvalde, Houston, Waco, Georgetown, San Angelo, College Station, and San Francisco, California, as well as Amsterdam, Holland.

She was included in the Notable Women of Texas 1884, served as a volunteer in the Better Government League, Chairman of the March of Dimes, a Cub Scout Den Mother, a Methodist Church Sunday School and Bible School teacher, Membership Secretary and Evangelism Committee member, participated in the Emmaus and Chrysalis Communities, and as a Gideon Auxiliary member. In her later years, she was associated with her husband in the real estate and investment business. She collected many antiques from the past, trying to impart her love of history to her children and grandchildren. For many years she was treasurer of the Frio Town Cemetery Association and saw to its care. Pursuing family genealogy, she joined the Daughters of the American Revolution, the Daughters of the Republic of Texas, the Colonial Dames of the Seventeenth Century, the Huguenot Society, the Society of Morgan Thornton Dames, the United Daughters of the Confederacy, the Daughters of the Indian Wars, the Daughters of the War of 1812, and was pleased that her granddaughters followed her membership.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Ada and Ruel Shelton, sister, Sue Shelton, son, James H. Hiler, Jr. (Jay), and husband, James H. Hiler. She is survived by her son, Mark Hiler and wife, Brenda of College Station; grandchildren, Sally Hiler Cone and husband, Matthew of Houston, Susan Hiler Ovalles and husband, Miguel of Santa Fe, New Mexico, Jason File of Colorado Springs, Colorado, Lucas Hiler and wife, Kerry of Boerne, Joshua James (Josh) Hiler, and Shelton Leudke, of Hondo, along with 8 great-grandchildren.

Visitation will be on Tuesday, August 29, 2023, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Primrose Funeral Services, 608 E. Trinity St in Pearsall, TX. Following a private family burial, a memorial service will be held Wednesday, August 30, 2023, at 10:00 a.m. at Pearsall Methodist Church, 507 E. San Antonio St, Pearsall, TX.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Pearsall Methodist Church.

If you wish to share a memory or express your condolences to the family, you may do so by visiting www.primrosefuneralservices.com.

Arrangements are under the direction of Primrose Funeral Services in Pearsall, Texas.