of Mountain View, AR

December 10, 1939 - December 18, 2015

Leon R. Reece Shipman, age 76, of Mountain View, a lifetime resident of Stone County, died December 18, 2015, at White River Medical Center in Batesville.

He was born December 10, 1939 in Fifty Six to Verlin James Shipman and Dovie Lea Pitts Shipman.

Leon was a hard worker. He worked on construction for several years. Leon worked on the construction of the Ozark Folk Center, the Mountain View School, the bridge at Allison across White River, helped rebuild the Swinging Bridge at Allison after the flood in 1982, and worked on the sewer system in Mountain View as well as other sewer systems in Arkansas. He also worked for the US Forest Service on TSI and helped with the development of Blanchard Caverns. In 1988, he began working at Holiday Mtn Resort in Allison, where he worked until he retired at age 70 in 2009.

He loved the Lord and was a member of Fifty Six Missionary Baptist Church.

Survivors are his wife, Carolyn Rutledge Shipman of 42 ½ years, daughter, DeAnna Shipman Collins and husband Robert Collins of Judsonia, two grandsons Tyler Randle Collins and Michael Reece Collins of Judsonia; niece, Michelle Turner of Sherwood, who lived with Leon's family for several years. Michelle's two daughters, Brittney Choat, husband Michael and son Turner Choat of Sherwood, Bethaney Turner of Mtn. View; one sister, Juanita Kendrick of Fifty Six, her son Kenny Kendrick and wife Stephanie, their two sons Peyton and Kolin Kendrick of Mtn. View; and brother Don Shipman of Fifty Six, his two children, son Don Shipman of Chicago and one daughter, Rachel Batson and husband John, their three children, Maggie, John and Bobby of Georgia; a brother Ernest Shipman his wife Shirley of Mtn View, their son Brad Shipman and wife Kay, their three children, Brady, Kaley and Kade; a nephew, Rickey Treat and wife Renay of Fayetteville, as well as several aunts, cousins and numerous friends.

He was preceded in death by parents Verlin James Shipman and Dovie Lea Pitts Shipman, one sister Maxine Treat and husband Clyde Treat, brother-in-law Gene Kendrick, grandparents William James Shipman, Lillie Balentine Shipman, Clarence Pitts and Fannie Leasor Pitts Sweat.

Funeral services will be Monday, December 21, 2015, 10:00 A.M., at Fifty Six Missionary Baptist Church, with Brother David Campbell and Brother Junior Barham officiating. Lesia Yeager May, his cousin, will honor Leon with music. Interment will be at the Fifty Six Cemetery.

Pallbearers: Ronnie Anderson, RC Alexander, Junior Lee Deatherage, Joel Woody, Glen Doyle Lancaster, Barry Storey and Jimmy Mitchell

Honorary Pallbearers: Nephews, Joshua Rutledge, Kenny Kendrick, Rickey Treat, Brad Shipman, Don Shipman, and James A. Woody.

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