John Franklin Shipley Sr.

John Franklin Shipley Sr. went home to be with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on October 3, 2007. Although his family is incredibly saddened by their loss, they rejoice knowing John is at home in heaven and at peace and in health.

John Franklin Shipley or “Brother John” as his friends at church called him was born at home on a farm in Ludell, Kansas to Glen and Ida Shipley on January 6, 1936. John grew up amongst the wheat in Northwest Kansas and along side him were his three sisters, Patty, Joyce, and Joan. John loved to return to this part of the country from time to time, especially to show his grandchildren the one room school house he attended until the eighth grade.

In 1955 John graduated from Atwood High School in Atwood, Kansas. While there, John met his sweetheart, Zelma Deibert. The two married in 1956, and went on to have five children, John, Tami, David, Glen, and Amy, and twelve grandchildren. John was extremely proud of his service in the U.S. Army from September 1958 to September 1960, and often said that he went into the armed services a boy, but came out a man.

John has served the Lord for over 40 years, and all who knew him knew that John loved Jesus. John’s word was gold, and he was a steadfast, trustworthy man of great character. In 1984, John was ordained a minister, but his primary focus always remained his ministry to youth boys through the Royal Ranger Organization. John has also traveled through 35 states, Europe, Africa, Central America, and the Middle East. Many of his travels were done with missions work. In the early to mid- 1990’s, John spent much of his time in Belize helping to rebuild a children’s orphanage. John also attended several medical missions to Mexico, and helped to build a church in Africa.

In 1992, John began to insist that his children and grandchildren meet once a week for dinner, thus family night was born. His presence this next week will be missed, but never fear daddy, we will all be there.

John was preceded in death by his grandparents John Robert and Ella Shipley, Frank and Nellie Makings, his parents Glen and Ida Shipley, and one sister, Joan Nickerson. John leaves behind his wife of 51 years, Zelma, and his children John and Angela Shipley, Tami Welch, David Shipley, Glen and Melissa Shipley, and Amy Muller. John’s grandchildren are Jeremiah Shipley, Charity and Jason Johns who are stationed overseas serving in the military, Bethany and Benjamin Shipley of Crosby, Texas. Cody Shipley, Corissa, Anna, and Johnathon Shipley, Meagan, Marina, and Arianna Shipley and Grace Ann Muller all of the Baytown/ Barbers Hill area. John also leaves behind his sisters and brothers-in-law Patty and Wayne LaDuke of California, Joyce and Terry Beims of Kansas, and Pete Nickerson of Colorado, along with numerous nieces and nephews, and an unlimited number of friends.

A celebration of John’s life will be held Saturday, October 6, 2007 at 2 p.m. at Maranatha Church in Mont Belvieu, Texas with a graveside service to follow at Earthman’s Memory Garden Cemetery. Visitation will be from 6-8 p.m. on Friday, October 5, 2007 at Navarre Funeral Home in Baytown. Serving as pallbearers will be Scott Niemeier, Rocky Fondren, Adrian Torres, Richard Willis, Buck Leavins, and Thomas Cardwell. In lieu of usual remembrances, John requested donations to be made to Shiloh Ministries at P.O. Box 10226, Liberty, Texas 77575.

Arrangements are under the direction of Navarre Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 2444 Rollingbrook Dr., Baytown, TX, 77521, (281) 422-8111.