Gregory Allan Shipp

On December 14, 2022, Gregory Allan Shipp was called home into the realm of eternal peace at the age of 61. A beautiful, private ceremony was held and attended by close family members to bid Greg a warm and loving farewell from this life. Greg was born on August 21, 1961, in Trinity, Texas to Fred and Joan Shipp and spent his childhood in Trinity with his brother, Gary Shipp, while Fred owned and operated a family pharmacy there. The family would eventually move to Huntsville, Texas, to open a new pharmacy, where Greg would attend school and receive his high school diploma. During his high school years, Greg found a passion for and flourished in public speaking-a skill he would build on and excel in for the rest of his life and career. Greg attended Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, where he would meet the love of his life, Lisa Gail Williams. They married on October 6th, 1984 and laid the foundation for their life together in the Huntsville area. Greg obtained a Bachelors of Agriculture and Master's Degree in Education at Sam Houston State University. In 1986, Greg and Lisa welcomed their first two children, Stephan Gregory Shipp and Gary Allan Shipp. After regaining their strength from raising identical twin boys into their teenage years, Greg and Lisa welcomed their third child, Lauren Gaye Shipp. Greg was extremely proud of all of his children and their achievements. Each of their paths took them away from their hometown of Huntsville, but Greg often would comment at meals and on holidays that the only thing that would make the day better would be for all of his children to be together with him. Beyond Greg's love for and steadfast dedication to the success of his family, his hard work and devotion earned him numerous professional accolades and achievements. His diverse and celebrated 35-year-long career took him to many great organizations. The expansive list of Greg's career includes: agriculture science teacher, Central Region Coordinator for Counsel Substitute Program for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, a counselor for the Reading to Reduce Recidivism Program in the Windham School System, an Education Specialist at Region VI Education Service Center, principal at Raven School and Gulf Coast Trades Center, and Vice President of Education for Gulf Coast Trades Center. For more than two decades he served and worked with 62 school districts and their Career and Technical Education programs as an education specialist and later as the Conroe ISD Career and Technical Coordinator. He retired from Conroe ISD as the career and technical education director in December of 2020. After retirement he returned to Region IV Education Service Center as a Career and Technical Education Specialist. Greg served the final year of his career in this role. He was selected as the 2013 Career and Technical Education Administrator of the Year. In addition, he was the national winner of the 2015 ACTE Administrator of the Year. Greg was an avid hunter and loved being surrounded by natural wonders, especially at his family's 180 acre farm in Trinity, which he called his "little slice of heaven." True to his nature of always looking upwards and on the bright side, Greg loved to identify clouds, birds, and types of trees. Many trips to the farm included an informal education on the distinction between types of oak trees and identifying types of clouds in the sky that day (every single cloud). Unsurprisingly, Greg was highly observational and sought to bring together all aspects of his environment and those around him. Greg's favorite time of year was Christmas, when he could indulge in his favorite activity: giving to others. Indeed, this notion extended beyond the holiday season and his family to include the many gifts he imparted on the lives he touched throughout his decades on this Earth. For this and countless other reasons, he will be profoundly missed. Greg is survived by his loving wife, Lisa Gail Shipp; three children, Stephan Gregory Shipp (Natalie Shipp), Gary Allan Shipp (David Couillard), and Lauren Gaye Shipp; his mother, Joan Copley Shipp; his brother, Gary Fredric Shipp (Juliet Shipp); his sister-in-law, Debra Lynn Turpin (David Turpin); as well as many cousins, nephews, and nieces. Greg was preceded in death by his father, Olon Fredric Shipp. Although Greg's light extinguished before we were ready, his legacy as a beloved husband, father, brother, son, educator, counselor, leader, and community activist will live on in the thousands of lives he touched. A public celebration of life will be held in 2023 and will be communicated at a later time. Memorials and donations on behalf of Greg can be made to the National FFA Foundation: https://www.ffa.org/national-ffa-foundation/

Gregory Allan Shipp

August 21, 1961 - December 14, 2022