Bonnie "Pat" Shipman

Bonnie Foster “Pat” Shipman, 80, of Searcy, passed away December 6, 2016 at Unity Health.  He was born March 17, 1936 at Wirt, Oklahoma to the late Henry Calvin and Georgia Melissa Lewis Shipman.
Mr. Shipman was a graduate of Plainville High School in Kansas and attended Fort Hays State College and Abilene Christian University.  He served in the Army from 1958 to 1960, and was recalled to service for another year due to the Cuban Missile Crisis.
He was a lifelong member of the Churches of Christ and over the years he enjoyed serving as an elder and deacon and was a local member at Downtown Church of Christ in Searcy. Pat always placed God first in his life.  His family was a close second, and he was a true family man.  Finally, coming in a close third was his love for his golfing buddies at The River Oaks Golf Course. He also loved playing golf and racquetball.  He carried an entrepreneurial spirit, sharing ownership and operation in an award winning catfish restaurant in Shreveport, Louisiana.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by two brothers, W.H. Shipman, and Bob Shipman; and one sister, Blanche Duke.
He married Janie Smith Shipman May 27, 1961 at Tulsa, Oklahoma; she survives.  He is also survived by two daughters, Jill Valentine (Scott) of Searcy and Jenna Bunner (Frank) of Clarksville, Tennessee; two sons, Jeff Shipman (Laurie) of Searcy and Jay Shipman (Lotte) of Dothan, Alabama; eleven grandchildren, Easton Valentine, Auburn Stallings, Landry Shipman, Fielding Shipman, Foster Shipman, Aaron Bunner, Joshua Bunner, Corrie Bunner, Elle Shipman, Marron Shipman, and Eliza Shipman; two great grandchildren; two brothers, Bill and Glen Shipman; and one sister, Ellen Smith.
The family with have a memorial service 2:00 p.m. Sunday, December 11, 2016 at Downtown Church of Christ with a visitation following.
Lasting memorials may be made to the “Room to Grow Campaign” supporting Downtown’s children’s ministry, c/o Downtown Church of Christ, 900 N. Main St., Searcy, AR 72143.