John Shults Sr.

John Giles Shults, Sr., 63 of Pipe Creek passed away on February 19, 2017 at his home. He was born in San Antonio on May 31, 1953 to Joe Eugene Shults and Betty Jean Sawey. He married the love of his life, Mary Lou Graham, on November 9, 1980 in Helotes. \r\n\r\nJohn, called Johnny by his friends and family, attended McCullough High School in San Antonio. He had a lifelong passion for rodeo and living the cowboy life. His younger years were spent working at the San Antonio Stockyards, where he bonded with the older hands there. He used that knowledge at various sale barns across South Texas, buying and selling stock. He enjoyed the cowboy lifestyle and was considered an expert in rodeo stock animals. Johnny provided stock for many youth rodeos. He always had an animal project in the works, whether it was feeding out heifers or having brood mare and colts. He spent more than 25 years throughout his life hauling his children to youth rodeos all across Texas. This past summer he was able to see his two oldest grandsons ride bareback horses along with seeing his oldest granddaughter compete in a youth rodeo. Long story short, he was a cowboy through and through. \r\n\r\nJohn is preceded in death by his father, Joe Eugene Shults, and brother-in-law, Luther Dale "Scooter" Graham, Jr. He is survived by his loving wife of 36 years. Mary Lou Shults; three loving children, Allison Smoot and husband Ira; Rabecca Teich and husband Mike; son John Giles Shults, Jr. and wife Lilly; brother James Shults and Sara; brother Billy Cude and wife Donna; sister Cheryl Shults-LeBleu, his mother Betty Minor, and six grandchildren, Mason, Jatin, Sloan and Tegan Smoot and Rowan and Giles Shults. He also considered Mary Lou's siblings his own family, whom he met when they were all very young, Tina Turner, Lynette Gibson, and Stacy Fisher. They considered him a father figure. \r\n\r\nPaw Paw fought a long battle with cancer and other illnesses. His grandchildren were the apple of his eye and his reason for fighting. He was extremely proud of the accomplishments of all three of his children who have received Bachelor's degrees and have successful careers. \r\n\r\nCelebration of life will be held at the Helotes Festival Association Pavilion 12210 Leslie RD Helotes TX 78023 on Saturday February 25 at 1:00 PM.\r\n\r\nIn lieu of flowers, memorials to Prostate Cancer Foundation and Justin Cowboy Crisis Fund in honor of John Gile Shults, Sr.\r\n\r\n"Hit em on the hairy side, cowboy!"