Dr. Anna Frances Shipley, Ph.D.

Anna Frances Shipley was born July 17, 1939 to Robert Willie Shipley and Helen Catherine (Batt) Shipley in Maryville, Missouri.  She was united in marriage on October 14, 2006 to Larry F. Groff.

Frances is preceded in death by her parents; two infant brothers and a sister, Susan Elizabeth Moberg.

Survivors include her husband, Larry F. Groff of the home and four brothers, Marvin (Pat) Shipley, Chickasha, Oklahoma, Donald Shipley, Rush Springs, Oklahoma, Robert Shipley (Deloris), Burlington Junction, Missouri, William Shipley, Marlow, Oklahoma; step-daughters, Julia Ann (Kevin) Cohen, Lenexa, Kansas, Becky Groff, St. Joseph, Missouri, Malisa (Chuck) Linthicum, Rock Port, Missouri; eight grandchildren; five great grandchildren and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Dr. Frances Shipley, known throughout Missouri as well as nationally for her leadership and commitment to the field of family and consumer sciences, was born in Maryville, grew up in Burlington Junction and graduated from Burlington Junction High School.   She continued her education in Northwest Missouri where she studied vocational home economics and graduated from Northwest in 1961.

After graduating from Northwest, Frances received a master’s in home economics education from Iowa State University and a Ph.D. from the University of Missouri-Columbia.  She taught high school home economics in Coon Rapids and Grundy Center, Iowa for seven years and her work at Iowa State University which was completed while holding a Graduate Research Assistantship.  In 1968, Frances accepted a faculty position at Northwest Missouri State in what was then called the Vocational Home Economics Department.

Dr. Frances Shipley’s forty years at Northwest included many and varied administrative assignments such as classroom teaching in addition to the other roles as faculty member, Department Chair for thirty years, Graduate Dean for twenty years, liaison to the Graduate Advisory Council, the Faculty Research Committee, Interim Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and interim Vice President for Academic Affairs (Provost).

Northwest Missouri State University recognized Dr. Frances Shipley with the MACE Award, Tower Service Awards,  Culture of Quality Award (1st recipient), President of the National Council of FACS Administrator Award, many state and national offices in the American Association of Family Consumer Sciences and the 2008 Indispensable Northwest Woman Award.  Missouri Educators of Family and Consumer Sciences presented her with the Life Time Achievement Award.

Outside of the university, Dr. Frances Shipley participated in the American Association of University Women (AAUW), Delta Kappa Gamma and Kappa Omicron Nu Honor Society Alumni Group.  Dr Frances Shipley was devoted to her church and served on many committees and was an active member of the Burlington Junction Alumni Association.

Memorial services for Frances Shipley Groff, age 73, of Maryville, Missouri who entered into peace Friday, November 9, 2012 at her home in Maryville, will be held 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, November 14, 2012 at the First Christian Church, Maryville, Missouri with Reverend Dale Stewart officiating.  In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the First Christian Church, SSM Hospice of Northwest Missouri.  Memories and condolences may be shared with the family on our website at,  HYPERLINK "http://www.ritchiefunralhome.com/" www.ritchiefuneralhome.com under Obituaries.  Arrangements were entrusted to the Ritchie Funeral Home of Clarinda, Iowa.