Rodney Wayne Shippee, 63, of Turlock, passed away on his sail boat in Friday Harbor, San Juan Island, Wash., on April 26. He resided on the boat for five years.
Rodney graduated from Turlock High School in 1969. He attended Modesto Junior College and later joined the Air Force. He served in Korea for 16 months.
He married his first wife, Toni Olson, and they had two daughters. Rodney graduated from Cal Poly in 1974 with a Bachelor of Science degree in ornamental horticulture and landscaping. He spent a year in Hilo, Hawaii working for a foliage nursery.
Rodney married his college sweetheart, Barbara Murphy, in 1982. She also had a degree in ornamental horticulture and landscaping. Together they purchased two and a half acres and built a home. They also built eight greenhouses and started their own business called “Morgan Propagators” selling wholesale plants.
Barbara passed away in 1990, and after one year, Rodney purchased a home in Canby, Ore. and worked for a nursery. After several fishing trips, he became interested in sailing and purchased a 31 feet sailboat name the Christian. After a sailing trip through Canadian waters, he anchored at Friday Harbor on the San Juan Island in Washington. He chose this island for the beautiful flowers, fishing and sailing during the summer.
Rodney is survived by his mother, Geraldine Shippee of Turlock; sister, Sandra Baptista (Jim) of Turlock; brother, Mark Shippee of San Marcos, Calif.; daughters, Jill Olson of Turlock and Robin Hernandez of Livingston; grandchildren, Alex Fiorini, Bianca Hernandez, Bryan Hernandez, Veronica Hernandez and Abby Naranjo; and great granddaughter, Layla Fiorini.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Barbara Shippee; and his father, Merlin J. Shippee.
Services will be held at 2 p.m. on June 11 at the National Veterans Cemetery on McCabe Road in Santa Nella. A Celebration of Life will be held at 11 a.m. on June 12 at the American Legion Hall, 75 Bothun Rd., Turlock, followed by lunch.
Rodney graduated from Turlock High School in 1969. He attended Modesto Junior College and later joined the Air Force. He served in Korea for 16 months.
He married his first wife, Toni Olson, and they had two daughters. Rodney graduated from Cal Poly in 1974 with a Bachelor of Science degree in ornamental horticulture and landscaping. He spent a year in Hilo, Hawaii working for a foliage nursery.
Rodney married his college sweetheart, Barbara Murphy, in 1982. She also had a degree in ornamental horticulture and landscaping. Together they purchased two and a half acres and built a home. They also built eight greenhouses and started their own business called “Morgan Propagators” selling wholesale plants.
Barbara passed away in 1990, and after one year, Rodney purchased a home in Canby, Ore. and worked for a nursery. After several fishing trips, he became interested in sailing and purchased a 31 feet sailboat name the Christian. After a sailing trip through Canadian waters, he anchored at Friday Harbor on the San Juan Island in Washington. He chose this island for the beautiful flowers, fishing and sailing during the summer.
Rodney is survived by his mother, Geraldine Shippee of Turlock; sister, Sandra Baptista (Jim) of Turlock; brother, Mark Shippee of San Marcos, Calif.; daughters, Jill Olson of Turlock and Robin Hernandez of Livingston; grandchildren, Alex Fiorini, Bianca Hernandez, Bryan Hernandez, Veronica Hernandez and Abby Naranjo; and great granddaughter, Layla Fiorini.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Barbara Shippee; and his father, Merlin J. Shippee.
Services will be held at 2 p.m. on June 11 at the National Veterans Cemetery on McCabe Road in Santa Nella. A Celebration of Life will be held at 11 a.m. on June 12 at the American Legion Hall, 75 Bothun Rd., Turlock, followed by lunch.
