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United States Pilots Association |
Harriet Merchant Shipman, 1935-2006
Harriet Merchant Shipman, 70, of Columbia, Missouri peacefully passed away on Wednesday, Aug. 30, 2006, at home.
A memorial service, followed by an internment of ashes at Memorial Prayer Garden, will be held on Friday, Nov. 24, at Missouri United Methodist Church in Columbia.
Harriet was born on Sept. 11, 1935, to Edna H. and Chester O. Merchant in Randolph, N.Y. She began her public education in Jamestown, N.Y., where she studied until third grade. Harriet graduated in 1953 from Mill Creek High School in Erie, Pa. She attended Cornell University and graduated in February 1957 with a bachelor’s degree in home economics.
After graduation, she was employed by the New York State Agricultural Extension Service as a home demonstration agent. On March 22, 1958, Harriet became an Army wife, marrying 1st. Lt. Charles S. Shipman, and began Army life at Fort Leonard Wood, MO.
In the first 12½ years as an Army wife, she was instrumental in moving the household 15 times. This involved stays from 30 days to two years, including a two-year period in Bogota, Colombia, and two one-year periods while Charles was deployed in Vietnam.
During this period, she gave birth to four children: Russell of northern Virginia on Dec. 3, 1958, at Fort Leonard Wood; Elizabeth of Rockford, Ill., on Sept. 15, 1961, in Bogota; Stanley of Kansas City on Nov. 14, 1964, at Westover Air Force Base in Massachusetts while Charles was in Vietnam; and Wayne of Minneapolis on Feb. 2, 1967, in Brooke Army Medical Center at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio. During this 12½-year period, Harriet was active as a Sunday school teacher, Cub Scout den mother, Girl Scout leader, and PTA member, all while maintaining the household. While Charles was on his second Vietnam tour, she earned an FAA private pilot license in single-engine airplanes.
The last five years as an Army wife were spent at Fort Belvoir, Va., where she became actively involved in Army Community Service as a volunteer. This is a service that provides help and support for military personnel and their families. She became supervisor of the Army Community Service volunteers at Fort Belvoir and was awarded a Certificate of Merit as an outstanding volunteer. In 1974, Harriet was awarded the Military Wife of the Year Award at Fort Belvoir and the award states: "Who by deed and example has materially enhanced the image of Army wives both at home and abroad." She also continued to serve as a Sunday school teacher, Cub Scout den mother, Girl Scout leader and PTA member.
In July 1976, the family left the military life and Virginia to search for a permanent home in the Midwest. After spending some time in Columbia and discovering an ideal piece of land for gardening, Harriet and Charles settled the family in Columbia, where they lived happily for the last 30 years. Initially, Harriet was a dietitian for the Central Missouri Area Agency on Aging. In May, 1978, Harriet and Charles opened a local restaurant, The Hungry Tiger, and operated it until 1986. Her next endeavor was as the assistant to the director of the Home Health Care Association in Jefferson City, where she worked from 1986 to 1987. Harriet then became the administrative supervisor at the American Red Cross Blood Center in Columbia, where she worked for 13 years. She was awarded the Employee of the Month award for the St. Louis Bi-State (Missouri and Illinois) Red Cross chapter in March 1989. Harriet retired from the Red Cross in 2001 and was awarded a Certificate of Appreciation for her 13 years of service from the president of the American Red Cross.
Since 1992, Harriet traveled throughout the United States in the airplane that was owned by the family and flown by Charles. This included trips for high school, college and military reunions; visits to family and friends; and vacations. Early this year, Harriet made a trip with her husband and a friend to Vietnam.
Harriet also enjoyed gardening, cooking, quilting and sewing. She had a love and skill for sewing, which included making most of the family clothes during early family life. Through the years, she continued to sew outfits for grandchildren and dresses for wedding attendants for her children’s weddings. In recent years, she became passionate about quilting and made countless quilts for family, friends and silent auction fundraising for organizations.
Harriet was instrumental in planning the reunion of the 114th Aviation Company in conjunction with the Salute to Veterans celebration during Memorial Day weekend in 2001. She served on the board of trustees for the Boone County Fire Protection District’s Perseverance Endowment since 2001. Harriet served as secretary and board member of the Missouri Pilots Association since 2001. She was also secretary and board member of the Friends of Rock Bridge State Park since 2000. Harriet was in her fourth year as president of United Methodist Women (UMW) at Missouri United Methodist Church.
In 2004, she was presented with the Special Mission Recognition Award from UMW. A week before she passed away, UMW presented her with the Distinguished Mission Recognition Award.
Survivors include her husband, Charles; her four children, Russell and wife Sherry Lea, Elizabeth Volk and husband Dan, Stanley and wife Linda, and Wayne; her mother, Edna Merchant; her grandchildren, Jessica and Kate Shipman, and Abby, Sam and Aidan Volk; and her brothers, Clifton, Charles and Frederic Merchant.
She was preceded in death by her father.
Memorial gifts may be given to the Missouri United Methodist Church or a charity of the donor’s choice.
Jan Hoynacki, Executive Director
United States Pilots Association