Jeral David Shipman

January 10, 1943 - February 14, 2018

Jeral David Shipman (J.D.) 75, of Macon MI passed away on February 14, 2018 with his wife at his side. J.D. was born January 10, 1943 in Guthrie, OK to the late Charley Shipman and Zena (Hall) Shipman. On December 17, 1966 he married Judy Chapman. J.D. is survived by Judy and their two children: Steve Shipman (Deannine) of State College PA and Stacy Summers (Bruce) of Columbia, MO and 4 grandchildren: Abby, Joshua, and Brittany Shipman, and Isabelle Summers. He is also survived by his sister Loretta Rowe of Corpus Christie, TX and was preceded in death by his other siblings, Don Shipman and Charlene Waterhouse. J.D. was a gentle and kind man who loved his family deeply and always was proud of them and their accomplishments. He genuinely cared about his friends and is remembered as someone who tended to the welfare of others. He spent many years working for Oklahoma Natural Gas in Tulsa OK until Judy entered the ministry, and then he willingly moved to Wisconsin and later Michigan, where he found other career opportunities until his retirement in 2006. No matter where he lived, JD always managed to find a softball team on which he could play shortstop. JD was a past-president of Saline Kiwanis and an ordained Deacon in the Presbyterian Church (USA). He also retired from the US Naval Reserve after having spent 20 years in service to his country. He enjoyed doing a variety of art forms over the years: working with stained glass and weaving wonderful baskets, and had taken up wood–carving until Parkinson’s disease got in the way. Thanks to Cambrian Assisted Living in Tecumseh, JD lived out his last 3 years enjoying himself, participating fully in all the activities, helping other residents, learning origami, and serving as president of the resident’s association. A memorial service will be held at Saline First Presbyterian Church on Sunday, March 11, 2018 at 3:30 pm, officiated by the Rev. Dr. Jim Monnett. The family will receive friends at the church from 2:00 PM until the start of the service, and a light supper will be served afterward. Memorial contributions may be made to First Presbyterian Church of Saline or the Humane Society of Huron Valley. To sign JD’s guestbook, to leave a memory, or for more information or directions, please visit www.rbfhsaline.com