Sandra Jean Brownlee Shipley joined our Heavenly Father on December 24, 2018. She was born on June 18, 1949, the day before Father's Day to Jay and Jean Brownlee. She was the first of their three children, and was raised in a Christian home where they attended Leewood Baptist and later Bartlett Baptist Churches. She graduated from Bartlett High School in 1967. She graduated from Memphis State and Baptist Medical Technology School with degrees in Medical Technology. Her specialty was in the collection of and analysis of bone marrows. She taught students from the University of Tennessee preparing them to become successful Medical Technologist. She was a member of the American Society for Clinical Pathology. She was a wife and was married to her best friend Darwin "Butch" Shipley for thirty-five years. They enjoyed fishing, camping, and travel. She was the mother to two miracle men, Tom Lawrence and Dean Shipley, who survived childhood cancer to become successful adults. Sandra was a wonderful, loving grandmother to two little girls, Izabelle Rose, and Lexie Marie. She filled their lives, with love, adventure, science, kindness and understanding. Sandra was a devoted daughter taking care of both of her parents as they aged and later as they became ill. She was a loving sister and aunt who was always interested in what her brother and nephews were doing at work, school and play. Sandra was an avid fisherwoman , who would even fish in the rain with an umbrella. In later years she was interested in family genealogy and shopping online. She was a member of Aldersgate United Methodist Church and was a creative, funny person, who knew what to value most in life, the love of God and family. Sandra was preceded in death by her parents Jay and Jean (Reaves) Brownlee and her brother Mike Brownlee. She is survived by her husband Darwin Shipley, two sons, Tom and his wife April Lawrence, and Dean Shipley, two grand-daughters, Izabelle Rose( 8) and Lexie Marie( 7). She is also survived by her brother David and his wife Dawn Brownlee and their two sons Zach Brownlee and Barry Spain and family. Sandra will be missed by many friends, colleagues, and other family members. We will continue to miss and love her forever. Family Funeral Care on Summer Avenue is in charge of the services. Visitation will be on Saturday, December 29 at 9 a.m. with funeral services to follow at 10 a.m.
