J. Mark Shipley

Mark was born October 29, 1955 in Muskogee, OK, the youngest son of Jesse Houston and Corda May (Whitman) Shipley, and passed away suddenly on Monday, March 24, 2014. Mark was a lifetime resident of Muskogee, OK. He grew up and attended Muskogee Public Schools and graduated from Muskogee High School in 1973. After graduation, Mark held several jobs before beginning his career at Brockway Glass in 1975. Following in his father’s footsteps at Brockway, he created many memories and lifelong friendships. He retired from Brockway in 1995. Afterwards, along with Curtis Millsaps, he opened the Rack-n-Roll, an arcade and billiards establishment. At the time of Mark’s death, he was Vice President of Bethany D. Bowline, CPA, Inc., PC. On May 20, 2000, Mark married the love of his life, Bethany D. Bowline, at the First Lutheran Church in Muskogee. They have celebrated almost 14 years of marriage together. For years, Mark was a tremendous pool player. His latest passion was golf. He played every opportunity he had and loved to talk about it even more. The St. Louis Cardinals were his favorite team. He followed them his entire life, through great and horrible pitching, his allegiance never wavering. His fondest memories included attending Busch Stadium for the first time with his father and brothers when he was a young boy followed closely by the homerun record being broken by Mark McGwire with his wife and son. Although his passions were golf and pool, his commitment and love for his wife, children and grandchildren is where his legacy will live on. He loved life and lived it to the fullest. His sweet smile and contagious laugh will be missed by all who knew and loved him. He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother Steve, and by his father-in-law Gary Bowline. Mark is survived by his wife, Bethany of the home; his daughter, Emily of the home; his sons, Brandon Shipley and wife, Amanda with grandchildren, Isabelle, Karson, and Harper of Fort Gibson, D. Scott Wafford and wife Katrina, with grandchildren Chance, Emma and Miley of Fort Gibson; the mother of Mark’s sons, Martha E. Shipley; his brother, Larry G. Shipley and wife Maribeth of Arlington, TX, nephew Kyle Shipley and wife Shelly and their children Dylan and Sailor, niece, Erin R. Shipley; his sister-in-law, Becky Shipley; his nieces, Leslie Schmidt and husband Rick with their children Josh, Natalie and Jessie; Kerry Gamber and husband Kevin with their children Zachary, Ian and Declan; Jyssica Smith; Amanda Shipley and Marcus Smith and children, Kaiden and Arianna Smith; his mother-in-law, Vera Bowline; his brother-in-law Charles Bowline and wife Melanie and nieces and nephew Sydney, Allyson, Megyn and Tyler; and numerous other members of the family. The family will receive friends from 5:30 P.M. until 7:30 P.M. Thursday, March 27, 2014 at Cornerstone Funeral Home. Funeral Services will be 2:00 P.M. Friday, March 28, 2014, at First Baptist Church, 111 South 7th Street, Muskogee, Oklahoma 74401 with Pastor Wayne Schuett officiating. Serving as pallbearers will be Rick McGeehon, Curtis Millsaps, Jim Pierce, Gary Edward, Chris Seabolt and Allen Etchison. Honorary pallbearers will be Rip Ohley, Al Milton, Steve Nicholas, Larry Garrison, Roger Bull, Bill Bull, Reagan Tennant and Richard Martin. Interment will be in Greenhill Cemetery. In lieu of flowers the family requests memorials made to the St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or online at www.stjude.org; First Lutheran Church of Muskogee; or to Lawrence Street Baptist Church.

J. Mark Shipley

October 29, 1955 - March 24, 2014