Billy Shipley

Billy Ray Shipley, 81, of Carlsbad, New Mexico, passed away on Sunday, March 30, 2014, at CarlsbadMedicalCenter.

Graveside services will be held at 2 p.m. on Thursday, April 3, 2014, at Woodbine Cemetery in Artesia, New Mexico.

Bill was born January 31, 1933, in Marlow, Oklahoma, to Edd Lee Shipley and Lona Elizabeth McGee Shipley. He graduated from ArtesiaHigh School in 1951. He served in the U.S. Army in the Korean War. He married Elizabeth Straub and they had five children.

He worked in the Texas oilfields some but spent most of his life in Artesia and Carlsbad and retired from the potash mines.

He was a very caring man and always ready to help others. He was a father to his sister Carolyn when their father passed early in their lives. He helped his mother, his sister, and others in their time of need. His family was very important to him and always came first. His children have many fond memories of fun times with him while growing up.

His hobbies include walking, gardening, reading, camping, fishing, hunting, and working on cars. He loved music and enjoyed going to Bluegrass festivals. His favorite past time was having coffee while socializing with friends and making new friends everywhere he went. He enjoyed having coffee with the group at McDonalds.

He is preceded in death by his parents, sister June West, brother Glen Shipley, and soninlaw Robert Vennebush.

He is survived by his children Cathy Queen and husband Ed of Carlsbad, NM, Sharla Vennebush of Jasper, TX, Ginger Colwell and husband Terry of Artesia, NM, George Shipley and wife Sammie of Artesia, NM, Mary West and husband Gary of Artesia, NM grandchildren Tiffany Hooten and husband James, Terry Colwell II and wife Danielle, Tao Colwell, Michael LeCompte, Cody Davis, Jeff Bannister, Richard Shipley and wife Kelly, Justin Jackson and wife Stephanie, Clinton Jackson 12 great grandchildren 8 nieces and nephews and sister Carolyn Self.