It is with saddened but rejoicing hearts that the family of Zearl Edward Shipman, age 86, announce his passing on Sunday, Dec. 30, 2012. Zearl was born on July 18, 1926, in Kenefic, Okla., the oldest of nine children, to Jim and Kate Shipman.

We will rejoice and celebrate his life at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 3, 2013, at Boxwell Brothers Ivy Chapel with Pastor Randy Davis of Lifeway Fellowship Baptist Church officiating. Burial will be at Memorial Park Cemetery. Arrangements are by Boswell Brothers Funeral Directors, 2800 Paramount Blvd.

Zearl grew up in and around Durant and was drafted out of high school into World War II. He was sent to the Phillippines to be part of the ground invasion of Japan before the war ended. Upon returning home, he met and married Missie McAlester on Sept. 1, 1948. Zearl moved his family to Mill City, Ore., where he worked in the logging industry. The family moved to Amarillo in 1961, where he worked as a machinist for Berkeley Pump until the company relocated to Lubbock. He completed his work life at Bell Helicopter.

Zearl was preceded in death by his parents, Jim and Kate Shipman, and brothers, Calvin, Alvin, Blaine and Lane.

He is remembered by his wife, Missie, daughter, Sharon Morris and husband J. Clyde, daughter, Mitzi Leonard and husband Steve, son Lynndon Shipman and wife Candy, all of Amarillo, and son, Gary Shipman and wife Mandy of Seabrook, Texas; sister, Eveline Downs of Oklahoma City, brother, James Shipman and wife Pat of Greenville, Texas, brothers Don Shipman and wife Rayann and brother Carl Ray of Durant; 10 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren.