Mary Sue Reeder Shipley

Mary Sue Shipley, 87, of Speegleville, died Sunday, March 8, 2015, at her temporary home in Jonesboro, Texas with family by her side. Services will be held at 11 a.m., Thursday, March 12, at Connally-Compton Funeral Directors chapel. Burial will follow at Waco Memorial Park with the Rev. Joe Bailey/Matt Dossey officiating. The family will receive visitors from 5 to 7 p.m., Wednesday, March 11, at the funeral home.

Mrs. Shipley was born September 29, 1927 in McKinney, to William Mack Reeder and Sadie Rebecca Mask Reeder. She was preceded in death by the love of her life Harry Shipley Sr. to whom she was married for 53 years. She worked for many years in the athletic clothing manufacturing business and also worked and retired as the Cafeteria Manager of Speegleville Elementary School. She was a member of the Speegleville Baptist Church. She was a devoted and loving wife, mother and grandmother. Some of her favorite hobbies were gardening, cooking and spoiling her children and grandchildren. She will long be known for her red devil's food cake, fried pies and of course her homemade chocolate chip cookies.

She was preceded in death by both parents; and 12 brothers and sisters.

Survivors include two daughters, Shirley Batts of Navasota, and Brenda Phillips of Sachse; a son, Harry Shipley Jr. and his wife, Elaine, of Jonesboro; a sister, Margie Buchanan of Leonard, Texas; nine grandchildren; and 18 great-grandchildren. Her grandchildren are Ronnie Morris of Navasota, Randy Morris of Dobbin, Lindsey Blatz of Wisconsin, Kara Forsyth of California and Jill Shipley of Wisconsin. She also adopted and raised four of her grandchildren, Tami Tobey of Midlothian, Biff Phillips of Speegleville, Nikki Byrd of Oklahoma, and Bradley Phillips of Frisco.

We want to thank Gentiva Hospice Care for all their help and support. A special thanks goes to her granddaughter/daughter Tami Tobey for her personal bedside care during these difficult times