Mary Minnetta Shipley

Mary Minnetta Shipley was born on October 14, 1931, in Coshocton, Ohio to her loving Mother, Sara. Fourth of 5 siblings (3 brothers and a younger sister), Sara, raised them all to be loving, caring, and strong people. Evidence? All lived well to the age of at least 92. Mary went home to be with Jesus on June 12, 2025.

Mary’s Midwest upbringing taught her the value of Christian faith, integrity, hard work, a strong will, and resilience. Before they turned 18, she read the Bible with her brother Alan daily, and they sang in the Methodist Church choir. She became, among many things, an outstanding roller skater (she danced incredibly well on roller skates!), loyal friend, goal-oriented person, and top-drawer wife and Mom. Every interaction, every date, every connection with others, every setback (including removal of a burst appendix…), every situation employed to propel her forward in life as an act of her will. Mary attended business school at the insistence of her Mother, graduating with an associate’s degree, advanced legal secretary skills (exceptional typing and shorthand skills), and endearing qualities her employers treasured: high standards and unquestioned integrity; Mary could be trusted, and in the legal/law profession, trust is vital.

Money was necessary but was never her main drive in life. As Mary lived she became amazingly rich just the same. During her early employment period, Mary met then Colorado State Trooper Marion Shipley, and on June 4, 1957, they married for life.

Soon pregnant with her first child, Mary closed out her full-time employment and resigned, dedicated to part-time work from home so she could love and raise good children. Because of her efforts (yes, and Marion’s), each would enjoy all the benefits a full, devoted family could provide and become good citizens and examples for their own families someday. Her Son, David, was born in March of 1958, very nearly at the expense of her life; but the Lord’s will prevailed and she recovered completely. Her daughter, Sara, was born in February of 1962, following two miscarriages. Both children became vital to her existence.

Mary rarely dwelled on the past because the future was so much more interesting. From home she instilled in her children the values she and Marion decided were most important and served as an excellent example of those values to her husband, children and friends.

Mary remained engaged and active in many community activities, including politics, all while supporting all the athletic and academic efforts of her children as they grew. When Marion ran for and was elected to the office of El Paso County Sheriff, she was elated and found her element in the constant political interactions that office demanded of them both.

She invited both her Brother, Paul, and sister, Carol to live with the family, each just for a short time, so we could help them and so our family could grow beyond what she and Marion could offer. Each left their indelible mark on the family, and each of them grew as well. All part of her plan.

Mary became the mainstay of the growing family when Marion fell victim to a massive heart attack while serving as Sheriff. Everyone in the house had to pull together to bring Marion back from the brink of death and Mary was more than up to the task, even with two active and challenging teenagers to deal with. Mary was a major reason for the closeness of the family during that time and for Marion’s full recovery, return to duty, life after serving as Sheriff and her being the Sheriff’s #1 supporter.

During those years, Mary began to deal with a new personal challenge, severe arthritis. Of all her family, she alone suffered this terrible affliction that would attend her every moment, (but did not rule), the rest of her life. Other than this affliction, she was “as healthy as a horse” as they say (except for that pesky gall bladder she had removed…). She walked faster than everyone else, zipped around town in her little orange VW bug, helped Marion start and run a Guard Service/Process Serving business, and managed the family financial affairs and scheduling as the Chief Financial Officer, lead cheerleader, and common-sense advocate.

Mary enjoyed making other people happy. She made friends easily and kept them close through the years. She could be stern with her children but laughed all too easily for them to be overly intimidated. David and Sara graduated high school and ultimately left home to pursue their own public safety careers in the footsteps of their Father and begin families of their own. Mary and Marion adapted to the empty nest and worked to maintain connection, influence holiday gatherings and keep in touch as the family grew and lived farther and farther away.

Three grandchildren and many grand pets, later, Mary helped Marion deal with increasingly demanding health issues, her daughter Sara becoming her close helpmeet, devoted friend and caregiver along the way. Some of the most satisfying moments of their lives came as 4-year hosts for USAFA Cadet Seth Shipley, David and Jayme’s oldest son and their first grandson, and took great pleasure in seeing him become the first Shipley to graduate from college, and that in the top 10% of his class. Their care along the way helped reinforce Seth’s desire to do well, to keep going and finish what he started, attributes both Mary and Marion helped his parents reinforce.

But there were major challenges yet to come. Marion’s health had been declining for several years. Soon after the graduation, he became ill, suffered setbacks Mary helped him overcome, but he finally succumbed to a combination of issues in October, 2005, causing, a nearly 20-year pause in a tremendously successful 49-year marriage.

True to form, Mary grieved deeply, but found close comfort in family, especially from nearby Sara, and friends, then once again looked and moved forward. She traveled a little, made new friends far and wide, and continued to grow relationships with her grandchildren and, eventually, her 10 great-grandchildren and a multitude of amazing fur-babies. She even “adopted” a star Special Olympics athlete, Brandon Smith, the son and grandson of close friends and neighbors. This friendship lasted to the end.

Mary often sought to bless others, but as the years moved on and worries increased, her health began to change. Always strong, though less than 100 pounds soaking wet, Mary lived alone. While doing so, Mary attended to the needs of others more than she did her own. She loved the folks who delivered her paper, the great guy who delivered her mail, the salon owners and lawn helpers, all of whom she knew by name. Preparing meals for two was difficult, but preparing meals for one was brutal. Unbeknownst to many, Mary began eating less and less, proud of her small size and figure even in this late season of her life.

Still driving into her early 90’s, as nutrition dropped, Mary began to see a decline in her eyesight and mental acuity, as she struggled with the constant pain the arthritis inflicted, and medications used to control it. But her heart remained strong as did her indomitable will. Her weight dropped to 75 pounds and put her in a very precarious situation.

Eventually, her lack of nutrition required intervention, something Sara, David and the rest of the family jumped to provide. Mary had not been eating at all and earned a terrible diagnosis: Failure to Thrive. Doctors were pessimistic and thought Mary would lose her life early in 2024. HOWEVER, creative, innovative doctors at Common Spirit Penrose Hospital worked closely with the family to provide treatment and love – a powerful combination that brought her back from the brink.

The nearly 18 months that followed found both kids pulling weekly shifts, actively supported by their spouses and families. Mary grew close with both once again and enjoyed identifying and achieving a growing list of “bucket list” accomplishments. She graduated from home physical therapy, learned to walk well again on her own, and agreed to help overcome the eating issue, and she did.

In January 2025, Sara suffered a major fall and injury as the family was helping Mary insulate her home from winter weather. David and his wife Jayme took over full-time care of Mary until she could return. Mom endured multiple 100-mile trips to their home where she interacted regularly with 3 of her great-grandchildren, something that brought her great joy (and wore her out!). Mary and Jayme became exceptionally close during this time. Mary ran multiple errands with both, and on one of those trips she earned a new nickname that nicely reflects her amazing spirit. They would escort her to the car (she would lean on an arm for stability and would reach out for a handle in the car). This one day, she grabbed the handle with both hands and, as she was swinging her backside into the seat, she cried, “Ahhh-AHHHH-AHHHH-aaa-AAAAAAH!” It was the unmistakable Tarzan yell, we all heard it, we all laughed mightily, and right there and then gave her an endearing new nickname: Tarzana.

From that point, whenever things became difficult or whenever Mary thought she was near the end, someone would say something like, “Tarzana can do it,” and she would suck it up and get whatever needing doing, done. The was proud of being so spry at 93-2/3 years old. She liked adding the months until she would say she was actually 94….

Sara recovered well enough from her injury to help care for Mary once again, just 2 weeks prior to her passing. Mary was so happy and overjoyed to have her adored daughter home with her once again. 1 week before, Mary said she had lost eyesight in one eye and doctors wanted her to take some tests. She was well, and the eyesight had returned, but Mary agreed to the tests just to be safe. Once the main tests were complete, showing only some basic issues some people encounter as they age, she left the hospital happy, enjoyed a refreshing ice-cream treat, and we then took her home overjoyed to be out of the hospital and living at home.

The next morning, she awoke refreshed, happy and ready for the day. Then she went in for a nap. When she got up, she wanted to change clothes, and in that process lost her balance and fell hard, striking her head on the nightstand as she fell to the floor. Mary remained conscious and optimistic this would not prove to be serious. David and Jayme provided first aid and called 911. The paramedics came, fell in love with her, and hustled her out to the ambulance and the hospital, Mary talking all the way.

In the hospital, doctors cared for the bump and cut on Mary’s head, helped treat her pain, x-rayed and CAT scanned her body, and found a cracked bone at the base of her neck and a potential bleed in her brain. Doctors thought, given Mary’s otherwise good health, her good cheer and attitude (she even bantered with a paramedic who had returned to check on her), and her overall cooperative demeanor that the test would improve in 6 hours when they ran it again. They moved her and the family up to the ICU just in case. There, Mary heard Sara’s voice and spoke with her briefly before things suddenly changed and nurses whisked her off for another scan. That scan showed everything was changing for the worse in her head and was changing too rapidly to intervene.

The stroke was massive and sudden; it hit so fast we were unable to speak with Mom again. Doctors assured us she felt no pain but could still hear us as we remained by her side until she peacefully went home to Jesus.

Mary’s departure was sudden and leaves a great void in our family, but her legacy lives on: Mary Shipley succeeded at the game of life, became Tarzana, and taught us all how to truly LIVE….

LOVE unconditionally,

LIVE confidently,

and

REJOICE in the riches that family provides.

In Mom’s memory, please consider donating to causes near to her heart: The Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region, 610 Abbot Lane, Colorado Springs, CO 80905; or The American Stroke Association, Box 840692, Dallas, TX 75284-0692

From our family to yours, thank you!