Ralph Richard "Rick" Shipley Jr.

Friday, January 14, 2005

Ralph Richard "Rick" Shipley Jr., 55, resident of Neosho, Mo., died Thursday, Jan. 13, 2005, at the Freeman West Hospital in Joplin. He was born Oct. 9, 1949, in Fort Scott, Kan., the son of Ralph R. Shipley and Fern Maxine Dennis Shipley. He married Cheryl Pettibon on Dec. 7, 1975. They later divorced.

He was a graduate of Blue Mound High School. He was a veteran having served with the United States Air Force. He currently worked as parts manager for Interstate Transportation Equipment Company of Joplin.

Survivors include a son, Brandon Shipley, Sheldon; daughter, Brandi Shipley, Nevada; two brothers, Sam Shipley and Bobby Dean Shipley, both of Osawatomie, Kan.; and a granddaughter. He was preceded in death by his parents.

Graveside services will be at 11 a.m., Saturday, in the Mapleton Cemetery in Mapleton, Kan., with the Rev. Mark Mitchell officiating. The family will receive friends at Cheney Witt Memorial Chapel from 9 a.m., Saturday until leaving for the cemetery at 10:30 a.m. Memorials are suggested to the Deerfield Baptist Church and may be sent to Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, P.O. Box 347, Fort Scott, KS 66701.