Most Garrett County natives who stay here to start their careers and build their families will tell you the same thing - they love to live here. No one has a deeper appreciation for our beautiful area than the people who have spent their lives here. Nancy Jo Fratz Shelton was born and raised on a rural, Northern Garrett County farm. She also raised her family here, and is beyond proud and blessed to have some of her own children raising their growing families here, too.
After owning and running a hardware store in Accident for many years, Nancy Jo set her sights on a real estate career. With extensive local knowledge of the area, she was able to assist buyers and sellers in locations all over the county, including rural/large acreage and Deep Creek Lake area homes. Here’s how one of her clients describes their experience:
“Nancy Jo was very patient working with us when we bought our getaway place near Deep Creek. She sent us listings which we could sort through before we made our next house hunting trip to Deep Creek. She has also been a great source for local tradespeople we have had to get work done around our mountain home. If we were in the market again, we would definitely use her expertise.” - Sandy & Bill R.
One of our favorite things about Nancy Jo is her commitment to her community. Each year, she helps organize not only the Thanksgiving dinner donations, but also spearheads our annual Christmas presents and Christmas dinner donations. Donating to the local less fortunate during the holiday season is something the agents and staff at Railey Realty look forward to, and we’re extremely happy to have Nancy Jo on hand to help spread the holiday spirit through the office and into the community. Nancy Jo has also served on the Board of Directors for the Dove Center and is still very involved in the annual Festival of Trees event, which serves as one of the Dove Center’s biggest fundraisers. The event spans two days and includes local vendors selling goods, breakfast with Santa, incredible Christmas tree displays, and so much more. She volunteers much of her time during the already hectic Thanksgiving week to help this event run smoothly. As a Christmas fanatic herself, the event is very close to her heart and one of her favorite things each year. All of the donated trees and displays are then auctioned off Saturday evening, with all the proceeds going to support the Dove Center. The Dove Center is a local shelter for women and children in Garrett County who are victims of abuse, neglect, or need a safe place to stay. Nancy Jo continues to remain very active in spreading the word about what the Dove Center represents and why it’s such an important resource to our local community. You can learn more about the Dove Center and their mission here.
Recently re-married, she and her husband split their time between their Deep Creek Lake and Virginia homes. In the summer, you’ll find Nancy Jo on her pontoon boat enjoying the lake life, generally surrounded by friends and family. And, when she’s not volunteering her time, she’s soaking up every second she can with her three sons, her stepsons, and their families. If you’ve ever met Nancy Jo, you’ll most likely remember her infectious laugh and her warm personality. She’s a very genuine and honest person and it’s plain to see how much love she puts into her personal and professional life. We’re lucky to have her with us!
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