Melvin Shipman

Melvin Dean Shipman – beloved husband, dad, grandpa, part-time rascal, full-time cowboy – traded in his saddle for the great wide-open on December 4, 2025, just a few weeks shy of his 80th birthday. Born December 27, 1945, in western Nebraska, Melvin grew up with dust in his boots and a quiet grin that suggested he was up to something... and, more often than not, he was.
He graduated from Lewellen High School in 1964 and soon traded in his cowboy boots for combat boots, serving in the U.S. Army as part of the Army Security Forces in the 82nd Airborne Division. Though the Vietnam War was no easy trail, Melvin carried many fond memories of the antics, friendships, and general mischief he and his brothers-in-arms managed to get away with.
In 1966 he married his high school sweetheart, LaVaughn, known to him exclusively (and affectionately) as "Toots". Together they raised two daughters: their oldest, Lisa, and their youngest, Lori, who he insisted on calling George, regardless of what the birth certificate said. Titles never mattered much to him anyway.
Melvin was a cowboy to the core: stoic, quiet, steady as they come and blessed with a streak of orneriness that kept life interesting. He loved anything with four legs, but his horses and dogs had a level of seniority the rest of us could only aspire to. He could whistle loud enough to summon horses from what felt like the next county, and he could glide through a dance floor with a two-step smooth enough to make strangers stop and stare. His perfect day involved a saddle, a good horse, a stretch of Nebraska canyon, and a little work to do, whether it was moving cattle or roping something that probably didn't want to be roped.
He leaves behind his wife, LaVaughn, his daughters Lisa (Dennis) and Lori (Rex), and his grandchildren, Kari (Sean), Christopher (Jenna), Shaun (Kay), Mackenzie, and Jackson. He is also survived by a life-long friend and brother-in-law, Melvin, and many other family members, including several siblings, as well as many great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren who adored him.
Melvin's life wasn't flashy, but it was full: full of love, laughter, wide-open spaces, and just enough mischief to keep it interesting. Anyone lucky enough to have known him knows he rode every mile with quiet dignity, deep loyalty, and a heart as big as a Nebraska sky. He will be missed more than he'd ever admit and remembered with more laughter than tears... exactly the way he'd want it.
Visitation will be held 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM, Friday, December 12, 2025 at the Methodist Church, 402 Center, Curtis, NE.
A Celebration of Life will be held on Friday, December 12, 2025, at 12:00 PM at the Curtis Methodist Church. Burial with military honors will follow at 2:00 PM at Fort McPherson National Cemetery in Maxwell, Nebraska.
To honor the cowboy in Melvin, the family welcomes everyone to come dressed in true western spirit – boots, jeans, hats, and all. He wouldn't want it any other way. To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Melvin Shipman, please visit our floral store.