Dorothy A. Shipley

Dorothy A. Shipley, age 92, of Salem, IN passed peacefully on June 3, 2024, with her daughters at her side. Dorothy was born on December 28, 1931, in White Pigeon, MI to Henry and Ruth Lough and, until 2023, had lived in Northern Indiana all her life (Gary, Hebron, Merrillville, Portage, Hobart). She was preceded in death by her son Britt L. Shipley and brother, Jerry Lough. Dorothy is survived by her daughters: Wendy Shipley Swisher (Salem, IN) and Lynn Shipley (Lynn, MA); daughter-in-law, Linda (Jasiak) Shipley; sister-in-law, Carole (Miller) Lough; grandchildren: Melissa Corona, Jennifer Richey, Stephanie (Peter) Anderson, Lesley (Derrick) Schmaltz, Ashley Shipley, Allyson Shipley; great-grandchildren: Mercedes, Zachary, Logan, Jacob, Grant, Claire, Beckett, Ella; great great-grandchildren: Nevaeh, Leighton, and Bryce; nephew, Jim Lough; niece, Jodi (Lough) Heckman; many cousins, grand-nieces, and grand-nephews. She was the beloved matriarch of the Shipleys; a woman of quiet wisdom who adored her five generations of family. She gave great advice but rarely offered it unsolicited. She was a lifelong active member of Christ Presbyterian Church in Crown Point (previously 43rd Avenue Presbyterian Church in Gary, IN). Dorothy Lough graduated from Lew Wallace High School in Gary, IN; was married to (and later divorced from) Albert Shipley. She was fond of her Shipley relatives, Peter, Ann, Dawn, and Keith. She was a career bank professional, employed by Gary National Bank, later Gainer Bank. She was a single, working mother when that role was uncommon, fiercely devoted to her children’s education and well-being. Dorothy loved to read, and she read widely. She particularly loved reading cookbooks, even those from which she never prepared a single recipe. She rarely missed an episode of Jeopardy, and, like her mother and her Aunt Vera Weaver, was a competitive and sometimes ruthless Canasta player, still routinely beating any and all opponents in her 90s. She loved to eat and was a great cook. Seafood was high on her list of favorite meals; she could polish off more shrimp than one would imagine given her diminutive frame. On trips to New England, no lobster roll or bacon-wrapped scallop was safe. Fried lake perch sandwiches from Lincoln Carryouts were in regular rotation. She also loved a good corndog with mustard, and indulged in one each and every time she visited a fair or festival. Always open to new experiences, she tried (and loved) sushi for the first time at age 92. One of Dorothy’s most admirable traits was her ability to relax. After she retired, she could easily while away an entire day on a leisurely, aimless road trip or a long walk on a beach. Though a pro at relaxing, this did not mean her mind was idle – she was constantly curious about what breed of horses those were or what that late spring field crop with the brilliant yellow flowers was or what caused whales to beach themselves on the incoming tide. Amongst many friends she made throughout her long life, Dorothy leaves behind her friends at Linden House in Hobart, IN, where she lived for many years. A visitation will be held on Sunday, June 9, 2024, from 2 pm – 5 pm at Christ Presbyterian Church, 7416 E. 109th Avenue, Crown Point, IN. Funeral Service will take place on Monday, June 10, 2024, at 10 am at Christ Presbyterian Church. Interment at Calumet Park Cemetery, Merrillville, IN. In lieu of flowers, Dorothy would be grateful for your support of Christ Presbyterian Church. Burns Funeral Home & Crematory, Crown Point, IN, entrusted with arrangements. www.burnsfuneral.com

Dorothy A. Shipley

December 28, 1931 - June 3, 2024