Marcia Shipley

LIFESTORY:

Marcia Shipley was a loving, compassionate lady, fair-minded and even keeled, gentle and generous to those around her. Marcia was a legal secretary, the perfect job for her, a woman of such fairness, honesty, and integrity. She devoted her life to her beloved family, as a loving wife, mother and grandmother, and a dear friend to many. Today her love, and her life, lives on in all who knew her.

Marcia’s story began on a cold winter day in 1953, in the bustling city of Indianapolis, Indiana. Those were tumultuous times in our country, which was entering the Nuclear Age, and fighting the Cold War and the Red Scare, as well. Yet on February 3, 1953, Arnold and Marian (Carlisle) Johnson found a reason to celebrate, with the birth of a beautiful baby girl, a daughter they named Marcia.

Marcia was joined by her sister Melinda in the family’s Mooresville, Indiana home, the community she would call home most of her life, and where she would grow into the fine, thoughtful young woman she became.

Marcia attended Mooresville Public Schools, and eventually graduated from Mooresville High in 1971. After graduating from school, Marcia went to work as a legal secretary, a career that spanned more than thirty-five years. She joined the law firm of Gagnon & Diehl in Indianapolis, and also worked for Budget Rent-A-Car. She eventually went to work at the private practice of Roy Spilker, before finally landing at the great firm of Baker & Daniels, LLP, where she remained the rest of her career.

As rewarding as Marcia found her professional life, her personal life was so much more so. After a marriage ended when she was just a young woman, Marcia met the love of her life, a wonderful man named Alvin Shipley. They began dating, fell in love, and before they knew it, they were the proud parents of two terrific children, son Erik, and his little sister Sarah.

Because they had both been married before, Marcia and Alvin lived together for six years before making it “official.” They were married on February 20, 1982, which was such a special day for them. Family was always the most important part of Marcia’s life, and as much as she loved her job, she loved coming home to her husband and children even more.

Marcia was a wonderful wife and mother, such a caring, considerate lady. She was always kind and even-tempered, and never, ever raised her voice to her children. Then again, she never had to! Marcia needed only give her kids “the look” and they knew she meant business! Yet those moments were few and far between. Marcia made sure her kids grew up in a very loving, nurturing environment.

The family was enormously close-knit, and did so much together. They especially enjoyed camping together, sitting around the fire telling stories and roasting marshmallows. Marcia loved the camping the most, and loved being outdoors. She loved to fish, too, and was never afraid to bait her own hook. Marcia loved any excuse to be outside, though, from camping and fishing, to tending to her beautiful yard and garden in their home in Camby, Indiana, where she grew so many gorgeous flowers.

When Marcia’s kids grew up and began to have families of their own, she couldn’t have been happier or more proud. When they brought their respective spouses home for the first time, Marcia welcomed them with open arms, thrilled to add to her family. And when her granddaughter Eleanor arrived, it was truly one of the greatest days of Marcia’s life. She was also the proud and attentive aunt of her nephew Sam.

Sadly, Marcia received a difficult diagnosis on New Year’s Eve in 2007, when it was discovered she had lung cancer, and that it had already spread throughout her body. She began to battle the disease hard, though sadly to no avail. She lost her battle with cancer Sunday, June 8, 2008, at her home, surrounded by her beloved family. She was 55.

Marcia was a wonderful woman, who lived a wonderful life, a life so full of family and fond memories. She was a fair, even-tempered and compassionate woman, so gentle and generous to those around her. Most of all, Marcia was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and friend, and a great gift to all who knew her. She will be greatly missed.

Marcia is survived by her husband, Alvin Shipley; daughter, Sarah Shipley Richardson (Matthew) of Mooresville; son, Erik D. Shipley (Tyann) of Mooresville; sister, Melinda Baughman (Phil) of Mooresville; granddaughter, Eleanor Shipley; nephew, Sam Baughman of Mooresville. She was preceded in death by her parents, Arnold Lee and Marian (Carlisle) Johnson.

Funeral services are scheduled for Thursday, June 12, 2008, at 1 p.m. at Carlisle & Son Funeral Chapel, Mooresville. Calling is Wednesday, June 11, 2008, from 4-8 p.m. at the funeral home. Burial in White Lick Cemetery, Mooresville. Memorial contributions may be made to the Community Foundation of Morgan County. Please visit www.carlisleandson.com or www.lifestorynet.com to share a memory or photo of Marcia, and to sign the online guestbook.