Memories of dancing with you are all I have left.

Just a few seconds before it's my time to go,

Hello, my God and my love, at last I am home.

-R5

Shelby Jewel Gilbert, age 21, was called home to be with her daddy John, her daddy Jesse and most importantly, her God on Friday November 24, 2023. Shelby was home with her mother and her younger brother, Creedence, enjoying a peaceful evening when a sudden and unexpected health emergency occurred. Shelby was in the arms of her mother the entire time, surrounded by reassurance and love until God opened his arms and took her home.

Shelby was born November 16, 2002, in Mount Sterling Kentucky. She is the daughter of Shayne Hodges of Morehead, Kentucky, and the late John Gilbert of Flemingsburg, Kentucky. Shelby was also blessed with a step daddy, Jesse Hodges of Morehead, Kentucky, who absolutely adored her, as she did him. Not a day passed that Shelby did not speak of Jesse and now she is dancing on the other side of the stars with two amazing daddies that have their baby girl at home with them.

Shelby Jewel is survived by her mother Shayne Hodges; her brothers, Kyler Gilbert and Creedence Zane (Morehead, Kentucky); a half-sister, Abagail Gilbert of Evansville, Indiana; her loving grandparents, Scott and Betty Hilterbrand of Wallingford, Kentucky; grandfather, Hal Boehm of Delta, Colorado; aunt Olivia (Roger) Schielke of Grand Junction, Colorado; aunt Cathy (Gary) Moore of Arizona; uncle Dakota Hilterbrand of Wallingford, Kentucky; niece Everly Belle Gilbert of Morehead, Kentucky; special first cousin, Grayson Schielke of Grand Junction, Colorado. Also surviving are her dear friends Olivia Montoya and Chad Starnes. Shelby also leaves behind many loving friends and family and a community she loved so much.

From the moment Shelby was born she was my guiding light into a world of the unknown. One look at her and I knew, God has sent me the most precious gift and from that moment on she proved that to all who knew her. Her whole being was that of pure innocence and kindness. She lived in a world where everything was like a fairytale. She'd never allow herself to watch any form of negativity that may change her outlook on the world. She surrounded herself with music, dancing, arts and crafts, shows and movies that were filled with laughter and love, her animals and friends and family. Shelby would want me to mention the love she had for her brothers and how she looked forward to them each and everyday. As well as her precious Papaw, Scott. The bond she shared with the three of them was a beautiful thing to witness. But, we all know, her main love, since she was 10, was her beloved R5. She started and ended each day with the ritual of a few songs of theirs; singing every word and dancing along. If you knew Shelby, then you knew that R5 was our family. We traveled many miles for concerts, meet and greets, and events. We celebrated birthdays and all other huge life events. Her passion for them and all she did was beautiful to witness. Her smile changed all of our lives and her ability to make you see the world through her eyes was the most special gift of all. Being around her allowed you to experience what a life of pure innocence feels like. She accomplished what she set her mind to, nothing held her back, and she never saw her disability as a challenge. She thrived in school, was active in sports, extracurriculars, and was our most beautiful Homecoming Queen-her proudest moment.

Her and I shared a nightly saying, "I love you; you are my precious gift from the dear Heavenly Lord." We would say that while signing it to one another and then she would do a little wiggle with that contagious laugh of hers. It made my day complete.

If you all could take a little piece of my Shelby with you while you are here, you'd be blessed with what I got to experience-Heaven on Earth.

Pallbearers are: Kyler Gilbert, Dakota Hilterbrand, Chris Johnson, Johnny Cline-Combs, Riley Hutchinson, and DJ (Donald) Shuck. Honorary pallbearers are: Creedence Zane, Cody Bolton, Chad Starnes, Jesse Wallace, and Tim Ball.

Visitation will be from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Northcutt Son for Funerals in Morehead, Kentucky on Wednesday, November 29, 2023. Funeral services will be held at 3 p.m. at Northcutt Son for Funerals on Thursday, November 30, 2023, with a private burial to follow at Goddard Cemetery at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made at the funeral home, or the family has set up a Go Fund Me account, named Shelby Jewel.

I wanna see you smile.

-R5