Sandra Sue Shipman, 86, of Dallas City, Ill., died Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2024, at Maple Grove Memory Care in Carthage, Ill.
Sandra was born Jan. 5, 1938, the daughter of Roy L. and Avery L. Akers Allen. She grew up on her parents’ farm near St. Mary, north of Plymouth, Ill, and became the family matriarch upon the sudden loss of her mother in 1951. Sandra went on to graduate in 1955 from Plymouth High School as the class Salutatorian.
On July 1, 1956, she married the love of her life, Ronald K. Shipman, which launched a 60-year true-love story that never waned – but was put on a brief pause after Ron’s death on Oct. 12, 2016.
Following high school, Sandra worked a number of jobs, including at Yetter Manufacturing and the Hancock County Farm Bureau. She attended beauty school in Burlington, which led to a highly successful career in the beauty field spanning over 40 years. Sandra’s Petite Flair beauty salon was a mainstay of Dallas City small business for over 20 years. Eventually, she transitioned to a follow-on career as a Mary Kay Consultant, continuing her passion for promoting women-owned businesses and the field of beauty.
She and Ron lived many places throughout their life, including Carthage, Burlington, New London, Colchester, Beaverdale, Lomax, Dallas City and even spent several years living in Pine Bluff, Ark. They amassed many friends and made a positive impact on peoples’ lives everywhere they went. Sandra always saw the best in people, especially children; to Sandra, every child was the greatest blessing a person could have. Her infectious enthusiasm and genuine concern for friends and family were inspirational and uplifting to everyone who met her.
Sandra enjoyed serving the community, whether it be through prayer, cooking meals, serving as an Election Official, teaching Vacation Bible School, or helping with Red Cross Blood Drives. She was a woman of strong, unwavering Christian faith; Ron and Sandra were members of – and were married in - the First Baptist Church in Carthage, and later became members of the First Christian Church in Dallas City.
Survivors include three sons: Audie Shipman of Dallas City, Doren Shipman of Dallas City, Brian Shipman of Hamilton, Ill. and one daughter, Karma Shipman of Houston, Texas, four grandchildren: Landon, Brenton (Jessica), Mason and Paige; three great-grandchildren: Joseph, William and Isabella; one brother: Larry Allen of Carthage and four sisters: Linda (Dale) Schamberger of Carthage, Janice Crum of Carthage, Chris (Ron) Totten of Salisbury, North Carolina and Cheryl (Wes) Shoemyer of Shelbina, Mo.
Besides her husband, she was preceded in death by her parents; her step-mother: Carol Allen and three brothers: Sidney, Earl and Daniel Allen.
Banks & Beals Funeral Home of Dallas City is assisting the family.
The family will receive friends from 3 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024, at the First Baptist Church in Carthage.
The funeral service for Mrs. Shipman will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, Nov. 22, 2024, at the First Baptist Church, followed by burial at the Oak Grove Cemetery, rural Carthage.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a donation to Hickory Grove Supportive Living or the First Baptist Church of Carthage.