Marilyn Dee Shiplet

Published 12:00 am Monday, July 16, 2007

Natchez — Services for Marilyn Dee Shiplet, 70, who died Thursday, July 12, 2007, will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday at St. Mary Basilica with the Rev. Alfred Camp and the Rev. Leopold Keffer officiating.

Burial will follow at the Natchez City Cemetery under the direction of Laird Funeral Home.

Visitation will be from 5 to 7:30 p.m. Monday at Laird Funeral Home and from 10 to 11 a.m. Tuesday at St. Mary Basilica.

Mrs. Shiplet was born on Sept. 13, 1936, in New Orleans, the daughter of Carl Edwin Maxwell and Dorothy Luyster Maxwell.

She grew up in Fort Worth, Texas, and graduated from Texas Christian University where she was a member of Zeta Tau Alpha sorority. In 1959 she married Francis Bryant Shiplet just after her college graduation.

Suzy and her family lived in Shreveprot and Natchez. While in Shreveport, Suzy was president of the Newcomers Club, president of Questors International and president of Antique Collectors Organization. She was on the music staff of St. Mark’s Episcopal Church. She was president of the Zeta Tau Alpha Alumni Association for two terms.

Suzy was well known and loved for her dedication to the Natchez Little Theatre. She performed in many productions and was a life member and three-term president. She was also a life member of the Natchez Junior Auxiliary and past president of the American Cancer Society, Natchez chapter.

Suzy was a long-time teacher in Natchez, having taught in the Natchez public schools, Huntington and Adams County Christian School. One of her great pleasures, after her retirement, was encountering former students and learning of their success. Suzy was enrolled in history classes at Co-Lin Community College.

Suzy was a member of St. Mary Basilica, where she was a frequent lector.

Survivors include her husband; a son, Michael Shiplet and wife Janet of Fresno, Calif.; daughter, Sara Shiplet Waitt and husband, Damon of Austin, Texas; granddaughters Hannah Elizabeth Waitt and Rachel Eden Waitt of Austin; brother Patrick A. Maxwell and wife Mona of Hazlehurst; nieces Allison Terry of Victoria, Texas, and Susan Spann and Husband Conrad of Dallas and grandnephew Aiden of Victoria.

Pallbearers will be Lloyd Gilbert, James Wiggins, Charles Conner Burns, Bryan Rabb, Louie Gilbert and Ty Coley.

Memorials may be made to the Natchez Little Theatre or a charity of your choice.