Shirley Ann Shipman

Shirley Ann Shipman, 86, passed away peacefully on June 1, 2023, in Mesquite, TX.

Shirley was born on March 20, 1937 in Springdale, AR, to John Harp and Gladys Harp.

Shirley graduated from Springdale High School in 1954. After high school Shirley moved to Dallas, TX, where she worked as a shipping department clerk at Mrs. Baird's Bread from 1954 to 1956. That is where she met her husband, Larry Shipman. Following several years as a stay-at-home mom, Shirley began a career as an insurance manager for Travelers Insurance where she worked until she retired in 1992.

Shirley married Larry Shipman, Sr. on January 21, 1956 in Denton, TX. The couple had 5 children: Sharon Wilson-Hendley, Karon Lankford, Zane Shipman, Donald Shipman, and Jamie Kassab.

Shirley was very active in the nursery and Sunday school departments in several churches. Most recently, at "The Country Church", she and Larry served as church elders. Shirley also served as the church treasurer for a number of years and also continued to teach children's Sunday school. She raised all of her children in church as well as in a Christian home. She was very proud of her children and the Christian lives they are living.

Besides raising her own 5 children, Shirley's love of all children was exhibited by the fact that she and Larry fostered over 100 children for Hope Cottage in Dallas over many years.

Shirley loved her Mesquite Opry family where every Saturday night she volunteered in many capacities. She loved working in the ticket booth where she greeted everybody with a smile. She spent many hours making and repairing costumes for her family who performed weekly on the show.

Shirley and Larry also loved traveling with good friends over the years. She especially loved trips to Nashville to attend Fan Fair and the Grand Ole Opry. Other favorite trips included the Western Music Association conventions in Gene Autry, OK and Tucson, AZ.

Shirley is preceded in death by her parents John Harp and Gladys Harp, and her sister, Maxine Tucker.

Shirley is survived by her husband, Larry Shipman, Sr. of Mesquite, daughter Sharon Wilson-Hendley and husband George of Mineola, daughter Karon Lankford and husband Doug of Mesquite, son Zane Shipman and wife Becky of Terrell, son Donald Shipman and wife Shelly of Ft. Worth, and daughter Jamie Kassab and husband Bruce of Sunnyvale.

Shirley is also survived by 16 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren, as well as many nieces, nephews, and friends.

A visitation will be held on Tuesday, June 6, 2023, from 6:00 to 8:00 pm in the chapel at New Hope Funeral Home.

A Celebration of Life Service for Mrs. Shirley Shipman will be held on Wednesday, June 7, 2023 at 10:00 am in the chapel at New Hope Funeral Home in Sunnyvale, TX.

Burial will take place at Mesquite City Cemetery in Mesquite, TX.

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