Violet Jean Shipman

July 18, 1920 - October 31, 2014

Violet Shipman died Friday, October 31 2014 at the IOOF Home in Mason City, Iowa. There will be a visitation at Fullerton Funeral Home 123 2nd St. S.E. Mason City, Iowa on Sunday, November 2nd from 3:00 P.M. to 6:00 P.M. Funeral services will take place at Wesley United Methodist Church, 1405 S Pennsylvania Avenue, Mason City, on Monday, November 3rd at 10:30 A.M. followed by burial at Memorial Park Cemetery. Those considering an expression of sympathy may wish to consider Wesley United Methodist Church of Mason City or Hospice of North Iowa. Online condolences can be left at www.fullertonfh.com Violet Shipman was born in Belle Plaine, Iowa on July 18th, 1920 the second youngest of seven to parents James and Elizabeth McIlrath. She attended school in Rockwell and graduated from Mason City High School in 1938. She was first married to Earl Hoffman and later married to Marvin Shipman with whom she was with until his passing in 1976. She did her best to celebrate the simple things in life, taking great pleasure in raising her five children as well as holding various jobs through out her life. She worked a cashier for Earl’s Fruit Market and then as a seamstress for Sam Raize’s department store before working as a dispatcher for Al and Dick’s Wrecker Service. To say Violet was an early riser would be an understatement most mornings having a whole days work done and eagerly working on more. There was no need for alarm clocks in her house as most often you would be awakened to the sounds and smells of her baking. Anything from cakes, to pies, cookies, or homemade bread and cinnamon rolls; her baking always drew a crowd and was the spotlight of every family event. She lived her life with spirit and spunk with music of all kinds playing in the background. Violet especially enjoyed Elvis Presley, and Kenny Rogers, Brooks and Dunn, as well as Alan Jackson. She loved openly and honestly with nothing but kind words for those around her. She was truly a one of a kind woman who will be sorely missed by all that knew her. She spent her last 3 years at the IOOF home enjoying the activities (baking, bingo, church, singing) where she was able to spread joy and love to those around her being a genuinely kind and sincere person. Although our hearts are heavy, we know we will see her again. Those left to cherish her memory are her five children: Louis (Mary Lou) Hoffman of Mason City, Marvin (Rebbecca) Shipman Jr. of Pineville MO, Marlene (John Finarty) Miller, of Chariton, Dennis Shipman of Mason City, and Dee (Brian) Bryant of Cheyenne, WY, grandmother of 10, great-grandmother of 14 and great-great grandmother of 5; as well as many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, first and second husband, her four brothers, as well as two sisters.