Robert Lynn Shipley, age 72 of Red Oak, Texas passed away November 27, 2022. He was born January 22, 1950 to the late Thomas Shipley and Melba Burke. A lifelong resident of Bristol, he was raised by his grandparents Alex and Jewell Burke. Robert worked as a butcher in high school, graduating from Ferris in 1967. Robert always had an entrepreneurial mind and owned and operated the Bristol store, later was a franchisee with Catfish King in Garland, Texas. He also had businesses in pest control, daycare and worked in security as an undercover shopper and never minded moving around for his business ventures. He also lived in Houston, California, Garland, Dallas and back to Ellis County.
Robert was a traditional individual, often serious, but more often funny and loved to joke around, sharing his dry sense of humor. He was the life of the party at Halloween and New Year’s Eve and loved Star Trek, old western movies, the series Dark Shadows; Abby, the goth girl on NCIS and was a longtime fan of Elvira, Mistress of the Dark. Robert always had a green thumb; growing lemon trees, bananas, strawberries, blackberries, and always had pepper plants. He will be missed by all who knew him.
Robert is proceeded in death by his grandparents, parents and grandson Andrew Blake.
He was survived by his children: Monica Lynn Casmedes and husband Chris, Brandy Luan Miller and partner Jason, Nichole Lynn Depuy and husband Scott, and Robert Aaron Shipley and wife Ellisen, partner and longtime companion Barbara O’Connell; grandchildren: Kaitlyn and husband Jon, Isabella, Randall and wife Karma, Emily and husband Dawson, Reagan and husband Regan, Nathan, Noah and wife Faith and Daniel; great-grandchildren: Anakin and Paige, who is on the way; brother Jerry Kress and sister Brenda Burke.
Visitation will be 6-8 p.m. Friday, December 2, 2022 at Green Funeral Home Ferris, Texas.
Funeral Service will be 11 a.m. Saturday, December 3, 2022 at the Bristol Baptist Church 306 Union Hill Rd. Ennis, TX 75119. Pastor Dave Futral officiating.
Burial will follow at the Bristol Cemetery.