Gerald Henry Shipley was born on November 13, 1921 to Dewey and Iva (Miller) Shipley near Orion in Gove County, Kansas. Gerald married Lillian Faye Ludlow on August 15, 1940 in Amy, Kansas. They celebrated 55 years of marriage. Lillian went home to the arms of the Lord on November 11, 1995.

Gerald worked as a farm hand. He could shear 4 sheep an hour with hand clippers for 25 cents a sheep. He worked as a land surveyor but didn't want to leave western Kansas. He farmed with his parents in Gove County, Kansas. He worked for Glen and Jim Coberly for five and half years. He moved his family to Gove, where he took a job with the Gove County Road Department until he retired. He also did mechanic work in his garage in Gove. He and Lillian moved to the homestead in 1975 after his mother passed away and continued to drive to Gove and farm. He was the mayor of Gove and was on the fire department.

Gerald loved his family and friends. He loved music, playing the fiddle, guitar, mouth harp, bones, accordion and mandolin. He bought his first guitar at the age of 16 for $15. He then bought a banjo guitar for $2 and a button accordion in 1936 for $15. He loved to dance and taught his daughters how to dance. He also enjoyed playing cards with his friends.

Gerald married Elizabeth "Betty" (Flax) Eaton on August 10, 1996 in Oakley, Kansas.

Gerald always had his cowboy hat and boots on. He could tell a good story and could remember every detail of the early days. He liked to joke and tease.

Gerald is preceded in death by his parents, his wife Lillian, great-granddaughter Madison Neufeld, son-in -law Bill Schafer, brothers Duane and Eldon Shipley, and cousins raised in his parents' home: Orand Miller, Lawrence Miller, and Loretta Collard.

Survivors include his wife Betty of the home, three daughters: Carrol (Don) Baker of Towanda, Kansas, Linda Schafer (Stan Anderson) of Lincoln, Kansas, Charla Shipley (Mike Campbell) of El Dorado, Kansas; step-sons Eugene (Jean Kay) Eaton of Des Moines Iowa, Skip (Mary) Eaton of Sarasota, Florida, and Marc (Jan) Eaton of Nashville, Tennessee; 10 grandchildren, 28 great-grandchildren, 14 great-great-grandchildren, and extended family grandchildren and great-grandchildren, as well as special friends Bill Jones, Luetta Scott, and John and Irene Geist.

Funeral Mass 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, September 18 at St. Joseph's Church with Fr. Donald F. Pfannenstiel officiating. Interment in the Gaeland Cemetery, Orion. Visitation: 5 – 9 p.m. Tuesday at Kennedy-Koster Funeral Home with rosary/wake at 7:00 p.m. Memorials to the church, and Hospice of Phillipsburg in care of the funeral home, PO Box 221, Oakley 67748.

Condolences to www.kennedykosterfh.com