In Memory: Michael Shipley

Michael Joseph Shipley, 85, of Westminster, Maryland, passed away peacefully on April 3, 2018. Born October 23, 1932 in Frederick, Maryland, he was the son of the late Harry and Mary Cramer Shipley.

Michael served in the U.S. Army during the Korean conflict in 1953-1955. Returning to the Maryland Institute College of Art where he achieved his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree, and then later returning to obtain his Master's Degree in Fine Arts. He started his art teaching career in 1956, at Catonsville Junior High School. He was the head of the Art Department at the opening of Arbutus Junior High School in 1958. Michael went on to teach art at Ellicott City Junior High, Glenwood Middle, and Wild Lake High School. He retired from teaching at Northwest Middle School in Carroll County in 1980.

Michael bred and raised Morgan horses from 1976-2006. He bought his first horse, HRH Marionette, a six-month-old filly at a Gettysburg horse auction and kept her until she died in 2006. He registered 19 horses under his prefix.

He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Barbara J. Shipley; son Michael Mark and daughter-in-law Marian and their children Stephen, Kayla and Mary Shipley; daughter Michele and son-in-law Jan Klika and their children Thomas, Samuel, Peter, Dane, and Jeremy; daughter Stephanie and son-in-law Timothy Zielke and their children Benjamin, Margeaux, Alec, and Seth Lippmann; son Matthew and daughter-in-law Christine. He is also survived by Jaime, Samuel and Rose Klika, his brother James Shipley, and his sister, Linda DiGiulio.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the American Morgan Horse Association, 4066 Shelburne Road, Suite 5, Shelburne, VT 05482 or Grace Lutheran Church, 21 Carroll St, Westminster, MD 21157.