Tolliver Eugene Shults, 80, of Orange, lovingly known as “Tolly,” passed away on September 8, 2026. He was born on February 5, 1946, in Fields, Louisiana, to Ora Delmon Shults and Reatha Mae Huckaby Shults.

Tolly was raised in Starks, Louisiana, with his brothers and sister. He loved athletics and especially excelled in basketball, a sport he enjoyed throughout high school. Athletics instilled qualities that stayed with him throughout his life. He graduated from Starks High School as president of the class of 1964.

Growing up around his father’s mechanical shop, Shults Garage, Tolly learned early how to work with his hands. He became an exceptionally skilled mechanic and could fix anything. If something was broken, Tolly could figure out what was wrong and how to make it work again.He was meticulous in everything he did and believed that if something was worth doing, it was worth doing right.

After high school, Tolly met Katherine Elaine “Kathy” Metz, and the two made their home in Orange,Texas. They were married for 51 years and raised their two children, Toby and Khristina. Tolly was an old-school father who believed in rules, responsibility, hard work, and doing what was expected of you. He was strict and firm, but he loved his family deeply. He and Kathy were always involved in their children’s lives, supporting them in their activities and being there when they were needed.That same devotion continued with their grandchildren, and Tolly was a proud PawPaw who loved watching them grow up.

Tolly started with BF Goodrich in 1973 as a mechanic and, through numerous company name changes, retired from Bayer after 33 years of service (2006) as a crane operator. He was highly skilled and known for his dependability. He took pride in doing a job the right way.

Tolly enjoyed bird and deer hunting, particularly the time it allowed him to spend outdoors with his son and work friends over the years. For Tolly, hunting was much more about being outdoors, spending time together, and enjoying the traditions that came with it.

After retirement, Tolly and Kathy spent time traveling with their trailer and made trips to Colorado,Tennessee, and the Grand Tetons. They enjoyed seeing new places, but the truth was that Tolly and Kathy were happiest at home.

Their home and yard were a source of great pride to both. They kept everything just so, inside and out. Tolly was always working on something, repairing, tending to the yard, or making sure things were exactly the way they should be. He enjoyed growing vegetables in the garden and he and Kathy loved having family come to visit. Some of their happiest times were the simplest ones, spent at home cooking, visiting, and feeding the people they loved.

Tolly and Kathy also knew what it meant to rebuild and keep going.They rebuilt their home after two hurricanes and faced Kathy’s battle with cancer together.Through 51 years of marriage, they remained committed to one another and to the home and family they had built together.

Tolly’s beliefs were influenced early on by his mother’s faith.He read his Bible every day and had a strong faith in Jesus Christ. He and Kathy were devoted members of Winfree Baptist Church, where they valued their church family and grew in their faith together. Tolly believed in Jesus Christ with all his heart,and he shared that faith openly with everyone he met.

Tolly is survived by his son, Toby Shults and wife Lisa of Port Neches; his daughter, Khristina Howton and husband Scott of Houston; his grandsons, Peyton and Parker Shults; and his granddaughters, Mackenzi and Kendall Howton and Paxton Shults.

He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Kathy Shults;his parents, Ora Delmon and Reatha Mae Shults; his brothers, Buddy Shults and Billy Shults; his sister, Maurice Ray; and his brother-in-law, Kenneth Ray.

Tolly will be remembered as a man who loved his family deeply and showed that love by teaching them about the Lord, providing for them, helping them, and always being there when they needed him.

The family is inviting those who knew Tolly to attend his Celebration of Life Ceremonyat Winfree Baptist Church in Orange, Texas at 11:00 a.m. on October 3, 2026.

In lieu if flowers, memorial contributions can be made in his name to the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America (www.alzfdn.org).