Sammy Shippey

Sammy Doyle Shippey, 82, of Mena, Arkansas died peacefully on Monday, September 28, 2026, at his “home” away from home at Pencil Bluff, Arkansas.

Sammy was born on January 16, 1944, in Quinton, Oklahoma, to Samuel and Ardell Shippey. He graduated from Bakersfield North High School in 1961 and joined the U.S. Air Force as an air traffic controller from 1961 to 1968.

On February 15, 1967, he met the love of his life, Susie Robbins in the Air Force, and two months later, they were married (after she said no) on April 15,1967 in Bakersfield, California. For 59 years, Sammy enjoyed chasing Susie around. Sammy worked as a Deputy Sherriff and Detective for Los Angeles County for 11 years. In 1981, Sammy decided to venture to Arkansas with his family and thought it would be a great idea to become a chicken farmer in Mena, Arkansas. Sammy and Susie farmed for 35 years. Sammy served as the Polk County OES Director and was responsible for setting up the 911 emergency address system for Polk County, Arkansas. Sammy was a member of Christ Church at Mountain Fork.

Sammy was a man who enjoyed laughter and being a prankster. He loved his family, his kids, grandchildren and great grandchildren. He enjoyed tinkering on his farm, watching all his family fish and loved cooking for his family. Sammy thrived through helping others and would give you the shirt off his back. Sammy thoroughly enjoyed living in the Mountain Fork community.

Sammy is survived by his wife, Susie Shippey of Mena; his children, Rhea/Keith Whalen of South Carolina and Sam J/Amy Shippey of Mena; five grandchildren, Faron/Chelsea, Tyler/Dannielle, Kyle/Kayla, all of Mena, Hannah/Felix of Charleston, South Carolina, and Kassie/Noah of Boston, Massachusetts; five great-grandchildren, Austin, Farrah, Caiden, Aleah, all of Mena, and Mateo of Charleston, South Carolina; and his brother, Raydon Shippey of Pleasant Hill, California and his sister, Kim Shippey of Petaluma, California.

Sammy was preceded in death by his parents, Samuel and Ardell.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, October 24, 2026 at 2:00 PM at Christ's Church at Mountain Fork in Mena, Arkansas with Brother Mark Berrier officiating under the direction of Bowser Family Funeral Home of Mena, Arkansas.

In lieu of flowers: Memorials may be designated to the Mt. Fork Cemetery Association ℅ Phillip Fields, 5598 Highway 8 West, Mena, AR 71953 or to Christ Church Mountain Fork (designated to either the Youth Fund or Benevolent Fund), 5695 AR-8, Mena, AR 71953.

Online Guestbook: www.bowserffh.com