AUGUSTA — Barbara Helen Shipley, 85, formerly of Oquossoc, passed peacefully in the early morning hours of Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2010, at the Maine Veterans’ Home.

She was born Aug. 30, 1924, in Augusta, the daughter of Herbert Martin and Esther Frances (Files) Dow. She received her education in Augusta schools and was a graduate of Cony High School. On Oct. 10, 1942, she married John Robert Shipley in Augusta. For many years, while raising their family, they lived in Massachusetts, returning for their retirement years to Oquossoc and the Rangeley Lakes area.

Mr. Shipley died on Nov. 27, 2001.

In addition to being a homemaker, Barbara was also employed for 23 years as an engineering assistant at Varion Associates, a technology company that manufactured tubes for radio transmitters. She was a member of the Rangeley Masonettes and the Widow’s Club of Rangeley. Though she and her husband spent six months of the year in Florida and six in Maine, she was pleased to return to the Maine mountains year-round. She is remembered as a woman with a strong work ethic and an independent spirit. A nature lover, she also enjoyed bird watching and caring for the hummingbirds. Her other hobbies included reading, swimming and baking. She especially enjoyed spending time with her family, friends, and dog, “Teddy.”

Survivors include her son, John Russell Shipley of South Berwick; her daughter, Sandra Mims and her husband, Robert, of Taunton, Mass.; five grandchildren, John R. Shipley Jr., Barbara Parks-Shipley, Troy Morrison Shipley and his wife, Brandi, and their son, Troy M. Shipley, Marilyn Lee Mims, Robert Morrill Mims Jr. and his wife, Juliane, and their daughter Madison Rose Mims; a brother, Martin William Dow and his wife, Phyllis, of Auburn; nieces and nephews.

In addition to her husband, she was predeceased by a daughter-in-law, Lee Shipley.

Funeral services were held Saturday morning, Feb. 20, 2010 from the Wiles Remembrance Center in Farmington, with Rhonda Wiles-Rosell as celebrant.

Gifts of remembrance may be given to the Rangeley Public Library PO Box 1150 Rangeley, Maine 04970, ATT.: Martin Gagnon.

Spring committal services will be held on Friday morning May 28 at 10 a.m. at the Evergreen Cemetery in Rangeley.

Words of condolence and tribute may be shared with her family at www.wilesrc.com.