Thomas Shipman

Thomas Ora Shipman, age 92, died Saturday, January 8, 2005 at Silver Bluff Nursing Home.<br><br>He was a native and lifelong resident of Haywood County and the son of the late, Mark L. and Julie Pressley Shipman. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Mae Cook Shipman who died in 1985; two brothers, Vanis and Vinson Shipman and three sisters Bertie Bolden, Viola Wilson and Minnie Hyde.<br><br>He retired with 22 years of service from Champion International and prior to that was an independent bus driver for Champion employees. He was a faithful member of Springhill Baptist Church where he served as an usher for 30 years. He also served as a bus driver for Springhill Church.<br><br>In addition to his wife of 19 years, Myrtle Maney Blankenship Shipman of Canton, he is survived by two daughters, Brenda Heeg and her husband, Ed of Asheville and Phillis Earley and her husband, Bob of Fairview; a step-daughter Marie Tripplett of Yorktown, VA; a step-son, John Blankenship and his wife, Vernile of East Flat Rock; two sisters, Veldia Biddix of Candler and Lydia Rogers of Canton; a brother, Arthur Shipman of Canton; four grandchildren, Lisa Conard and her husband, Rick of Candler, Kyle Sharp and his wife, Reba of Asheville, Kristi Shelton and her husband, Chuck of Candler and Gavin Nelson of Asheville and several great grandchildren and step grandchildren.<br><br>Funeral services will be at 4:00 p.m. Tuesday, January 11, 2005 at the Canton Chapel of Wells Funeral Homes & Cremation Services. Burial will follow at Springhill Baptist Church Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 2:45 - 3:45 p.m. prior to the services at the funeral home. At other times the family will be at the residence on Jeffrey Lane in Canton.<br><br>Memorials may be made to Springhill Baptist Church Cemetery Fund, 1918 Murray Road, Canton, NC 28716.<br>

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