GLADYS I. SHIPLEY February 1, 1920 - November 2, 2011
Gladys Shipley, 91, of Lopez Island, Washington, passed away on November 2, 2011 after a short illness at Yuma Medical Center in Yuma, Arizona. Gladys was born on February 1, 1920 in Bow, Washington to Ira Payton and Lola F. (Guffey) Allen.
Gladys attended Bow Elementary and graduated from Edison Washington High School. After graduation she moved to Everett, Washington where she went into nurses training at Everett General Hospital.
While in training she met and married Alexander Shipley and they shared 55 years together before his death in 1995. Gladys and Al had one child, Myrna, in 1941.
Gladys was employed as an office manager for doctors' offices until her retirement in 1978 when she and her husband moved to Lopez Island, Washington to enjoy their retirement years.
They traveled the world after retirement, including wintering in Yuma, Arizona.
After Al's passing, Gladys bought a winter home in Yuma that she shared with her daughter and son-in-law, Myrna and Dennis Mattson, whom Gladys always considered as her own son.
In her later years, Gladys was known as "Queen Mother, Gladys the Good" of the Lopez Red Hat Society. She developed a passion for Texas Hold'em Poker, playing six days a week during her winter months in Yuma. Gladys was a formidable opponent, telling the others that she had been playing poker longer than most of them had been alive.
Gladys is preceded in death by her parents, Ira and Lola; her husband, Al; brother, Ralph; and sister, Ruth.
She is survived by her only child, Myrna Mattson and her husband, Dennis; two grandsons and their wives, Jeffrey and Cheree' Mattson and Scott and Marcy Mattson; great-grandson, Chase Mattson; great-granddaughter, Rylee Mattson; sister-in-law, Mary Allen; and many nieces and nephews.
Her body just wore out and now she is with her beloved mate, Alexander Shipley. May she rest in peace!
Visitation will be held from 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m., Friday, November 11, 2011 at the Lopez Union Center Church on Lopez Island, followed by a funeral service at 2:00 p.m. at the Church.
Memorials may be made to the Lopez Union Cemetery Association, PO Box 155, Lopez Island, WA, 98261.
Arrangements are in the care of Evans Funeral Chapel and Crematory, Inc., Anacortes, WA and the San Juan Islands.
To share memories of Gladys, please sign the online guest register at www.evanschapel.com.