Thomas Shippey

1933 - 2022

Thomas Shippey
May 18, 1933 - March 31, 2022
Madera, California - Thomas (Tom) Rankin Shippey, age 88, of Madera, CA, passed away peacefully on Thursday, March 31, 2022, surrounded by his loving family. Tom was born in Troy, New York to William Dean Shippey and Eva Mae (Pitcher). William and Eva eventually divorced and William married Ellen (Hogue) who raised Tom and his two brothers as her own. They had four more children in addition to the three boys. Tom worked for Jay Welch ("up the road a piece") as a farm hand throughout high school and a year and a half after he graduated from Troy High School in 1951.
He joined the U.S. Marine Corps in 1953, and served as a Radar Technician until April of 1956, when he was honorably discharged , and stayed in CA where he got his CA driver's license and a job the same day in San Francisco. He met his first wife, Daisy (Ross) there and they married in 1956. The couple moved to Ithaca, New York where he attended Cornell University for a semester and a half, when his wife's morning sickness and homesickness had them returning to her native CA. He went to work for his father-in-law from 1957-1958, farming cotton. He then farmed for himself until 1962, and then went to work for a fertilizer company until 1967. He "did everything from sales to spreading it". From 1967-1970, he worked for California Corn Growers, then 1970-1971 he worked for the National Farmers Organization (NFO), but his area was too far away from home and he didn't like being gone all week.
In 1976 until he retired in 1996, he worked for the State of CA Employment Development Dept. He started at the farm labor office and eventually became the 1st Line Supervisor. He love "finding jobs for people and people for jobs".
While working as the 1st Line Supervisor, he completed his Associate of Arts Degree at Merced College in 1984 through night courses. His degree was in Supervisory Training for which he won the Outstanding Student Award.
Tom's retirement enable him to enjoy his hobbies. His first passion, his wife of 40 years, Catherine (Murphy) he married on Valentine's Day 1982, after his divorce from Daisy in 1979. Together Tom and Catherine made an annual trek across America to visit their families on the East Coast and many friends along their drive. Every spring he would plant a huge backyard garden and share the bounty with family and friends. He never missed a yard sale, and he also enjoyed having them himself. His treasures and the bargains he made, were numerous and legendary.
Tom was preceded in death by his parents William, Eva, and Ellen, also his mother-in-law, Joy Murphy, his brother, Gary Shippey, his daughter, Rachel Dencker, his granddaughter-in-law Shannan Watkins his grandson, CAL FIRE Captain Paul Rotondaro.
He is so very missed by his loving wife, Catherine, daughters Corryn Pierini, Toni McMillin (Michael) and Trudy Burke (Jeff) and his son, Tom Shippey (Anna). His grandchildren will also miss their "Grandaddy": Brent Watkins (Shannan), David Watkins, and Carl Watkins (Lisa), Kirk McMillin (Megan), Kyle McMillin (Jessica), Shannon Dunch (Jeffrey), Chase McMillin (Kiah), Jennifer Rotondaro (Paul), Jonathan Burke (MJ), Melissa Cobb (Josh), Quinn Shippey (Amy), and Dylan Shippey. 13 great grandchildren are also a part of the family Tom loves, Matthew, Bradley, Zach, Dillon, Devin, Danika, Kiersten, Wyatt, Brooklynn, Raegan, Austin, Damian, and Kennedy.
His East Coast family will also miss his presence, Ted Shippey (Ellen), Dan Shippey (Janet), Bob Shippey (Sheila), Beth Cook (Elton), Laurie Bonesteel, and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins across America.
A Celebration of Tom's Life, or as we like to call it "Tom's Passing Party" will be held on Saturday, April 16, 2022, from 12:00 noon until 4:00 pm, in the banquet room of Burrito King Restaurant, 319 N. Gateway Dr. Madera. Please stop in to break bread with us, raise a glass, and bring your "Tom stories" to share with friends and family.
Burial will be private, no date has been arranged. The family asks in lieu of flowers please send a donation to Hinds Hospice 2490 W. Shaw. Ave, Fresno, CA 93711, in Tom's name. They took excellent care of Tom and the family during his last few days.