Gordon Leroy Shippen May 23, 1917 - January 4, 2013
Gordon (Gordie) L. Shippen passed away on January 4, 2013 at the age of 95, at Wind River Health Care.
Gordon was born in Dubois, WY on May 23, 1917 to Gordon and Mae Shippen.
He attended school in Dubois, Burris, Lincoln, NE and Lander.
In his early years he worked on the family ranch and in the timber business with his father. He also spent a lot of time “chasing horses” for his granddad Grant Nipper. He also worked for the Forest Service on trails.
Gordon enlisted during World War II in the United States Marine Corp, November 17, 1941. His participated in action against the Japanese at Guadalcanal, Batio Island, Tarawa and Gilbert Islands. He was also in Samoa, New Zealand and Hawaii. He contracted Malaria in Tarawa and was shipped to Hawaii and hospitalized there. Later he was sent to Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. He was discharged October 29, 1945.
While he was stationed in New Zealand he met Mary Sinden at a dance. Later they were married in Napier, New Zealand on June 21, 1943.
After the war Gordon and Mary moved from Camp Lejeune to Dubois, WY, where they ranched and Gordon also worked for Fremont County Roads operating equipment. Later on through life he worked on ranches, operated equipment and hauled logs, ties and lumber.
Gordon and Mary raised five boys in Fremont County. Later on they divorced and Gordon moved to the Kaycee and Buffalo area where he was remarried to Joan Margaret Burgess.
Gordon enjoyed horses, rock collecting, studying Indian culture and geology. He liked drawing, painting, leather work and wood carving. He rode saddle broncs when he was young and later enjoyed watching rodeo. He enjoyed skiing and was a member of the Dubois Ski Club.
Gordon was a member of the Roman Catholic faith.
Gordon was preceded in death by his parents and his wife Mary. Gordon is survived by his five sons, Paul (Deedee) and their daughters, Audra and her daughter, Carissa (Gordon’s great-granddaughter) and Stephanie of San Leandro, CA, Grant, Joe and Robert of Riverton and Gerald (Donna) and their daughters, Katie and Dorothy of Cody. He is also survived by his second wife Joan of Buffalo.
A funeral Mass will be held at St. Margaret’s Catholic Church of Riverton on Thursday, January 10th at 10:00 a.m., with food and drinks to follow at St. Margaret’s School gym. Burial will be on Friday, January 11th at 11:00 a.m. at the Dubois Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, make donations to St. Margaret’s School of Riverton.
On-line condolences for the family may be made at www.TheDavisFuneralHome.com. Services are under the direction of Davis Funeral Home.
Gordon (Gordie) L. Shippen passed away on January 4, 2013 at the age of 95, at Wind River Health Care.
Gordon was born in Dubois, WY on May 23, 1917 to Gordon and Mae Shippen.
He attended school in Dubois, Burris, Lincoln, NE and Lander.
In his early years he worked on the family ranch and in the timber business with his father. He also spent a lot of time “chasing horses” for his granddad Grant Nipper. He also worked for the Forest Service on trails.
Gordon enlisted during World War II in the United States Marine Corp, November 17, 1941. His participated in action against the Japanese at Guadalcanal, Batio Island, Tarawa and Gilbert Islands. He was also in Samoa, New Zealand and Hawaii. He contracted Malaria in Tarawa and was shipped to Hawaii and hospitalized there. Later he was sent to Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. He was discharged October 29, 1945.
While he was stationed in New Zealand he met Mary Sinden at a dance. Later they were married in Napier, New Zealand on June 21, 1943.
After the war Gordon and Mary moved from Camp Lejeune to Dubois, WY, where they ranched and Gordon also worked for Fremont County Roads operating equipment. Later on through life he worked on ranches, operated equipment and hauled logs, ties and lumber.
Gordon and Mary raised five boys in Fremont County. Later on they divorced and Gordon moved to the Kaycee and Buffalo area where he was remarried to Joan Margaret Burgess.
Gordon enjoyed horses, rock collecting, studying Indian culture and geology. He liked drawing, painting, leather work and wood carving. He rode saddle broncs when he was young and later enjoyed watching rodeo. He enjoyed skiing and was a member of the Dubois Ski Club.
Gordon was a member of the Roman Catholic faith.
Gordon was preceded in death by his parents and his wife Mary. Gordon is survived by his five sons, Paul (Deedee) and their daughters, Audra and her daughter, Carissa (Gordon’s great-granddaughter) and Stephanie of San Leandro, CA, Grant, Joe and Robert of Riverton and Gerald (Donna) and their daughters, Katie and Dorothy of Cody. He is also survived by his second wife Joan of Buffalo.
A funeral Mass will be held at St. Margaret’s Catholic Church of Riverton on Thursday, January 10th at 10:00 a.m., with food and drinks to follow at St. Margaret’s School gym. Burial will be on Friday, January 11th at 11:00 a.m. at the Dubois Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, make donations to St. Margaret’s School of Riverton.
On-line condolences for the family may be made at www.TheDavisFuneralHome.com. Services are under the direction of Davis Funeral Home.