Frank Alexander Shipley, Jr.

Born in 1928 in Forney, Texas, Frank Alexander Shipley, Jr. overcame many early challenges to live a long and fulfilling life, rich with family and friends. He passed away peacefully on July 14, 2024, at the age of 96, in Lufkin, Texas.

With his wife of 67 years, Tomylee Russell Shipley, and guided by his faith, hard work, joyous spirit, and love for others, Frank raised and set a better path for their four boys, 11 grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren.

Frank and Tomylee raised their family in San Antonio and later retired to Hudson, Texas, where Frank became a rancher. He had a passion for family, woodworking, football and ranching. He taught his grandchildren to drive on public highways at an entirely too young age, crafted beautiful woodworking pieces, and put himself and his John Deere in situations most people would consider ill-advised, like hoisting himself up on the front-end loader to trim trees on his eightieth birthday. He was part of the greatest generation of Americans and expected hard work and good manners, sometimes to the ire of his sons and grandchildren, who occasionally woke up after sunrise and forgot to take their hats off indoors.

His mother, Beulah Virginia Spears Shipley, died in a car accident when Frank was 13. His father Frank Alexander Shipley, Sr., an alcoholic, often made Frank work instead of going to school.  Frank was an athlete, playing basketball and football for the Forney Jackrabbits. It was during this time that he perfected his "ole Forney hook shot," which he later regularly used to beat his sons and grandsons in games of basketball.  His sons appreciated the athleticism and competitive spirit they inherited from Frank.

After graduating from Forney, Frank joined the Navy Seabees and was stationed in Guam, Saipan, and eventually Eniwetok, supporting the nuclear bomb testing at Bikini Atoll.

After the Navy, the generosity of his Spears uncles helped put a roof over his head and kept him employed.

Frank married Tomylee in 1948. They first lived in Tomylee’s hometown of Lufkin where he worked at the S&T Grocery Store, owned by his uncle Wood Spears. They moved to San Antonio in 1954 after Frank took a job with Winn’s Stores, owned by his uncles Roy Spears, Lynn Spears and A.J. Thompson. In San Antonio, they raised their four boys and made many lifelong friends. Frank helped grow Winn’s from less than 30 stores to a publicly traded company with more than 150 stores in nearly 80 cities, eventually retiring in 1981 as President.

Frank’s second act as a rancher in Lufkin was filled with long, hot days cutting down trees, mowing pastures, and replacing every fence on the property with straight, tight barbed-wire fences that were stronger than any bull or tree. These days were also filled with worshiping at Timberland Drive and Loop 287 Churches of Christ, enjoying the finest home cooking from Tomylee, woodworking, watching football, and playfully shooing away grandkids who stole his recliner during nap time.

Tomylee passed away in 2015 and Frank missed her for the rest of his life. He managed to stay active with his projects around the ranch. Nona Banks became his caregiver in later years, stopping by to check on him and cook him meals, an act of kindness for which Frank’s family is grateful.  His trademark vice-like handshake and incredible strength, first honed during the hard work of his early years in Forney, stayed with him until the end.

Frank is also predeceased by his brothers, Dan and S.A. He is survived by his sons, Stan and his wife Cindy, Dan and his wife Lea, George and his wife Sandy, and Jon and his wife Gina, and his grandchildren Justin (and his wife Gretel and Frank’s great-grandchildren Ella and Cassie), Sarah High (and her husband Jordan and Frank’s great-grandchildren Hudson and Lucy), Lauren McCann (and her husband Jordan and Frank’s great-grandchildren Harper, Lillian and Duke), Russell, Kelly, Nathan, Noah, Temple (and her husband Stephen), Nikko, Theo, and Nolan (and his wife Allison).

Visitation will be held at Carroway Funeral Home in Lufkin at 10:30 a.m. on July 18, with services to begin at 11:00 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Timberland Drive Church of Christ Library, 912 S. Timberland Drive, Lufkin, Texas 75901, whose members were exceptionally kind and helpful to Frank and his family in his final years.

Memories and condolences may be added at www.carrowayfuneralhome.com.

Carroway Funeral Home, Lufkin, directors.