James R. Shipley Sr.

Pastor James R. “Jim” Shipley, Sr., age 77 years, a resident of Villa Ridge, Illinois and a former resident of the Pleasant Grove community, near Buncombe, passed away Saturday morning, April 18, 2026, at 8:52 A.M. at his home, following an extended illness. Jim, as he was known to family and friends, was born April 26, 1948 in Chicago, Illinois. He was the son of Herman Charles Shipley and Dorothy Rose (Ortegel) Shipley. On April 6, 1968, Jim was united in marriage to Debra Dean “Debbie” Askew at her parent’s home in Marion. Debbie preceded him in death on December 22, 2022. Jim is survived by: his children – Ronnie (Jamie) Shipley of New Boston, Texas and Robyn (Tim) Mize of Villa Ridge, Illinois; 5 grandchildren – Cody Shipley, Jessica (Patrick) Savage, Cassie (Paul) Forsyth, Kennedy (Damon) Prichard and Nathan (Halie) Shipley; 20 great grandchildren; a sister – Beverly (Bob) Parrott of Westmont, Illinois; a brother – Glenn (Marilyn) Shipley of Chicago, Illinois; as well as nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and many dear friends. In addition to his parents and wife, Jim was preceded in death by: a great-granddaughter – Riplee Jo Crouch; siblings – Don Shipley, Bill Shipley, Vernon Shipley, and Eileen Kurpis; and a niece – Pam Langlitz. Jim attended elementary school as well as his first two years of high school in Chicago, Illinois. He began attending Vienna High School during his Junior year and was a 1966 graduate. Jim’s working career was as a heavy equipment operator and mechanic. He was a 55+ year member of the International Union of Operating Engineers, Local # 318, located in Marion, Illinois. Jim was known and respected as a mechanic because of the relationships he fostered with heavy equipment operators. He took the time to listen to and understand the challenges and problems the operators were facing and this better enabled Jim to service the equipment and keep it operational. Jim’s relationship building was a hallmark of his work ethic and a testimony to his Christian faith. Among the road projects Jim was involved in was the construction of sections of both Interstate 57 as well Interstate 24. He also worked on the Olmsted Lock and Dam # 53 project. During his later working career, Jim was employed as a mechanic by the former Southern Illinois Asphalt at Buncombe, prior to his retirement. During the winter months, when road construction was typically discontinued, Jim was known throughout the local area for his skill and willingness to assist local farm neighbors with repairs and refurbishing of their farm equipment. Jim was a faithful and devoted Christian. He answered the call to Christian ministry. The first church which Jim pastored was Tunnel Hill Baptist Church. Having served for over 25 years, Jim was the longest serving minister of the Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church, near Buncombe. Under Jim’s pastorate, the church made a major addition and several facility renovations. As Jim’s health declined, he and Debbie moved from their beloved Pleasant Grove community to Villa Ridge, where they lived near their daughter and son-in-law, Robyn and Tim. They enjoyed traveling, as their health permitted, and became members of the Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church, near Pulaski, Illinois. “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” St. John 14:6 A service honoring the life of Pastor James R. Shipley, Sr., will be conducted at 10 A.M. Friday morning, April 24, 2026, at Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church, 5 Mt. Zion Lane, Buncombe, Illinois. Pastor Dean West, Pastor Charles Blair, and Pastor Brian Lingle will officiate. Burial will be in the Pleasant Grove Cemetery, west of Buncombe. Visitation will be held Thursday evening, April 23, 2026, from 5 P.M. until 8 P.M. at Bailey Funeral Home in Vienna. There will also be a time of visitation Friday morning, April 24, 2026, from 9 A.M. until the service hour at 10 A.M. at Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church. Memorials may be made to the Parkinson’s Foundation, 1350 Broadway, Suite 1530, New York, NY 10018 or online by visiting www.parkinson.org or to the Mt. Zion Baptist Church, 5 Mt. Zion Lane, Buncombe, Illinois 62912

James R. Shipley Sr.

April 26, 1948 - April 18, 2026