Shelah Frank Driver

Shelah Frank Driver was born March 27, 1920 in Montague, Texas, and died September 1, 2011 in Fort Collins, Colorado. His parents were Shelah Water and Rose Lillian Driver. Frank was the first born and had two brothers, Ray and Donald and one sister, Doris Rose. Frank attended grade school in Montague. His parents moved to Nocona, Texas, when he was about 14 years old, and he attended school there until he graduated from Nocona High School in 1938. He graduated from Abilene Christian College in 1941 with a major in education and minor in Bible. He taught school in Forestburg, Texas, for one year 1941-1942. His contract shows his salary for the year was $877.50. He told us, "That was pretty good for that time." Following this experience, he accepted a preaching job in Twin Falls, Idaho, to work with W.S. Boyett, who was the local preacher. After a time, he became the preacher for the church in Jerome, Idaho. Frank met his future wife, Nola Fern Plumlee in the Jerome church of Christ. They fell in love and they were married by W. S. Boyett on December 13, 1943. Shortly following this union, the honeymoon was to move to Lewiston, Idaho, to start a new preaching job. From here, they moved to Grants Pass, Oregon, where Vannah was born, Walla Walla, Washington; and Nocona, Texas, where Mary was born. From there, they moved to Lometa, Texas; Lincoln, Nebraska; and Tatum, New Mexico; and from there to Walters, Oklahoma, where Tim was born. Then the family moved to Sioux City, Iowa, where he preached for six years. Frank decided to start selling life insurance rather than continue preaching full time, so they moved to Fort Collins, Colorado, in August 1961. He sold insurance until he was about 88 years old and then finally decided to retire. Some income is still generated from policy holders, but this has diminished because Frank outlived most of his clients. Frank's passion was teaching and training young men to be Bible teachers. For more than 20 years he has used his vast Bible knowledge to train several young men who continued to come to him for study. The last study he had was about 2 weeks before his death. Frank was preceded in death by his mother, his father, and his brothers. Frank is survived by his wife, his sister, his three children, eight grand children and 15 great-grand children. Frank was always a generous man and he inspired his family to like-minded. This trait was made evident by one of his granddaughters and her husband when they recently set up adoption of three children. When finalized, this will add three more great-grandchildren to the total.