Larry Dean Shipp

Born in Mexia, TX, to Benjamin Franklin and Fredda Nell Shipp on October 13, 1943, the family moved to Houston when Larry was seven-years-old. Growing up in Galena Park, he played baseball and football, was a middle school cheerleader, and fetched foul balls with his father for the Colt 45s before they became the Houston Astros. He claimed that they paid him a nickel for each retrieved ball! A love for baseball, and the Astros, started at an early age.

Larry met the love of his life and sweetheart, Sandra Morrison, at church where his mother was their Sunday School teacher. On a Sunday that Sandy was playing the piano, Larry’s father told him, “You better ask her to go get a coke after church before some other boy does.” Other than Biblical truth, it was the best advice his father gave him. Larry and Sandy graduated together from Galena Park High School in 1961, when he then enlisted in the United States Navy. Stationed in Florida soon after the Cuban Missile Crisis, Larry quickly boarded the USS Bushnell and served on a team that repaired naval ships in distress. Their courtship continued while he served our country. Larry and Sandy married in December 1965.

Early in their marriage, Larry was a draftsman at Philco Ford at NASA and, later, at Richmond Tank Car. Growing tired of working behind a desk, he explored a career in real estate. A dear friend, Ken Powell, introduced Larry to Jerry Dominy who quickly became his mentor and friend. He started work at Dominy Ford in 1968, the year their daughter Devera Leigh Shipp was born. Their son, Larry Dean Shipp, Jr. came along in 1971.

When Larry and Sandy moved to Temple, in 1995, he found another mentor and friend in Larry Cole who also took Dean under his wing as an apprentice, allowing Dean to learn while working alongside his father. Larry and Dean started their own appraisal and consulting business, Shipp and Associates, in 1999 where he worked until he retired in 2022.

Larry was loved and respected by the young men he coached, every church he actively served, the communities in which he tirelessly volunteered, and many in the real estate field across the nation. He received accolades and honors from Kiwanis International, The North Shore Rotary Club, and the Society of Real Estate Appraisers. He served as President of the Appraisal Institute, Houston Chapter, in 1988 – 89. One of his biggest honors was becoming a member of Galena Park Masonic lodge, following in the footsteps of his father and Uncle Arthur. On the weekends, he loved coaching The North Shore Silverstreaks, the soccer team with big heart and many talents, which lead to the creation of the first soccer team in the history of Galena Park ISD at North Shore High School. Several week nights, he cared for the first soccer field built in North Shore in between Pancake Suppers, Crawfish Boils, and church softball games.

His life in Temple increased his love for The University of Mary Hardin- Baylor, where his daughter earned her bachelor’s degree, and their athletic program, where his son played soccer. Once again, he was instrumental in the expansion of another soccer program. Most days one could find him cheering on Cru soccer, football, basketball, and baseball. Everyone knew when he was there because of his “passioned” cheering and “eager assistance” to referees and umpires. The crowd picked up his line: Be the Best, Cru, Be the Best!

Larry’s final years were spent with a love and dedication to his church families at First Baptist Church, Belton and Lakeview Baptist Church. He loved studying and learning scripture and fellowship with his brothers and sisters in Christ. His love of Jesus grew every day of his life and his boisterous “Amen” was frequently heard in church classrooms and sanctuary. There was no mistaking Larry’s faith as he was a fine Christian man who chose not to compromise his morals in the midst of a lost world.

Larry is survived by his wife of 59 years, Sandy; daughter, Devera; son, Dean; sister, Nelda Calleri; brother, Ben Shipp and wife Donna; brother-in-law, Wayne Morrison and wife Cheryl; brother-in-law, Charlie Morrison and wife Trisha; nieces, Eadie Skelton, Kelly Pierce, Lisa Whitaker, Kerry Rickard, Devrry Mitchell; and nephews, Kirk Bingham, Kyle Shipp, Nathan Shipp, Kenny Ray Morrison, and Michael Morrison.

He is preceded in death by his father, mother, and brother, Ronnie Shipp.

Services will be held at Scanio-Harper Funeral Home in Temple, Texas on April 12, 2025 at 10:00 AM. Visitation will be held on April 11, 2025 from 5:00 to 7:00 PM.

The family respectfully requests that floral arrangements to be sent to Scanio-Harper and any monetary donations be made to either Lakeview Baptist Church, University of Mary Hardin-Baylor athletics, or Our Hospice House.