Daphna Ragland Shipley

Daphna Ragland Shipley was welcomed into the arms of her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Tuesday, December 4, 2018 at her home in Perry. She was 91. Funeral services have been entrusted to the care of Dighton-Marler Funeral Home of Perry.

Visitation will be Thursday, December 6, 2018 from 9AM to 8PM at Dighton-Marler Funeral Home. Family will greet guests from 6PM to 8PM for a time of sharing memories. A Celebration of Daphna’s homegoing will be 10AM Friday, December 7, 2018 at the First United Methodist Church in Perry with pastor Ed Cook officiating. Interment will immediately follow at Grace Hill Cemetery. Pallbearers will be her three grandsons and three sons-in-law.

Daphna was born September 18, 1927 on the family farm just east of Harrison, Arkansas to F.C. and Vena (Savage) Ragland. She attended all 12 years of her education at Bellefonte School, and graduated Valedictorian of her class in 1945. After graduation Daphna attended a business college in Little Rock, AR, where she learned bookkeeping and shorthand.

Growing up on the farm during the 1930’s, times wasn’t easy. She learned how to milk cows and can veggies with her mother just to make ends meet as they pressed through the Great Depression.

After working a short while as a secretary for Arkansas Power and Light Company Daphna met L.M. Shipley ( Ship) when he returned home from the service during World II. In 1948, Daphna and Ship were married in the Cobblestone house where she was born. They immediately moved to Oklahoma City where they remained for the next 25 years while Ship worked for ODOT.

Daphna was blessed to be able to be a “stay at home mom and housewife” while her three daughters were growing up. Never missing an opportunity to attend one of their many school functions.

In 1973, the family moved to Perry when Ship was offered a job with ODOT. Together they built their first home on Skyline Avenue. It took a while, as both were back in the workforce fulltime. Daphna worked several odd jobs before landing a job with Ditch Witch that would lead her into retirement. After 20 years of service, she retired in 1995 as the Engineering Office Manager. A few years after Ship’s passing in 1992, Daphna’s good friend Norma Hughes introduced her to Jerry Edgar. They became good friends and love struck once again. They were married in 1997. Together they enjoyed nine happy years until Jerry’s passing in 2006.

Daphna was very active in her faith. She was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Perry. Always willing to help in any area that she could. Volunteer work was very dear to Daphna. She spent countless hours in Oklahoma City and Perry volunteering her time and talents to several different groups and organizations. Even after her retirement in 1995 she continued her volunteer work with the Perry YMCA, Perry Hospital Auxiliary, and the United Methodist Church. In 2012 she won the “Perry Woman of the Year”.

A wealth of history lies in her 91 years. Living through the Great Depression, she remembers President Roosevelt give his famous speech “A Day That Will Live in Infamy” as he declared a world war.

Daphna was known to travel. Having visited all 50 states and 15 foreign countries including a Methodist Mission trip to Costa Rica, her favorite was New Zealand.

During her 91 fruitful years, she has not sat idle. She leaves behind a legacy of love and accomplishments that her family will embrace for a lifetime. She will be greatly missed by all who knew her.

Survivors include her three daughters, Vicki Davis and husband Monty of Ponca City, OK, Lori Beier and husband Mike, and Lisa Frank and husband K.T. all of Perry, OK; six grandchildren, Derek Dronberger and wife Amanda and Matthew Dronberger all of Ponca City, OK, Morgan Beier of Edmond, OK, Garrett Beier of Perry, OK, Paige Frank of Edmond, OK, and Ragen Frank of Perry, OK; one great-granddaughter, Alexandria Dronberger of Ponca City, OK; Step-children, step-grandchildren, numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and a host of friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents; two husbands; brother, Cam Ragland; and one great-grandson, Zaden Dronberger.

Memorial donations may be made to the First United Methodist Church of Perry; Karman Legacy Hospice Foundation; or Perry YMCA Sustaining Drive in c/o Dighton-Marler Funeral Home, P.O. Box 189, Perry, OK, 73077.