Wilma Kathryn “Kate” Shippy, 86, of Grain Valley, Missouri, passed away Tuesday, November 30, 2010. Graveside services will be held at 1:00 p.m. Saturday, December 4th in Elm Springs Cemetery, Kingsville, MO. The family will receive friends from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Friday evening at Royer Funeral Home, Grain Valley, MO. Contributions may be made to the Elm Springs Cemetery Association c/o Royer Funeral Home.
Kate was born June 24, 1924, in Franklin, Kansas, the daughter of Melvin O. and Georgia D. (Ogan) Dowty. She married Kenneth G. Shippy on November 19, 1945 in Girard, Crawford County, Kansas. Kate enjoyed visiting with her “front porch friends” from Blue Branch Manor Apartments. She also loved to sit and watch the ocean at Gulf Shores, Alabama.
Kate was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, sister Fritz McGonagle, brother Dale Dowty, and brother Ron Dowty.
Her survivors include four daughters: Sandra Shippy Davis & husband John of Hartville, MO, Donna Shippy of Kansas City, MO, Nancy Shippy Lukens of Raymore, MO, & Toni Shippy Desselle & husband Rob of Grain Valley, MO; nine grandchildren: Melissa Davis Heeney & husband John, Amy Davis Coopman & husband David, Alex Davis & wife Lisa, Bill Scott, Alison Lukens Tellatin & husband Michael, Matthew Lukens & wife Danyelle, Jake Blake, Kenneth Blake, & Ian Desselle; eight great-grandchildren: Megan & Jack Heeney, Katie & Lucy Coopman, Aria Davis, Morgan Hunter, Colin & Kaylee Scott; one brother: Dean Dowty of Windsor, MO; and two sisters: Louise Martin of Cape Coral, FL & Glenna Pentola of Pittsburg, KS.