Meet Our Caring Staff
Our staff is comprised of dedicated and licensed professionals with the experience to answer all your questions regarding our services. Please feel free to contact any of our staff members at any time.
Steve Shipman is the owner of Shipman's Funeral & Cremation Service. Steve has over 40 years experience in the funeral profession, graduating from the Dallas Institute of Mortuary Science in Dallas, Texas. Steve is a licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer, also holding a license in Oklahoma Preneed Insurance. Steve is the son of the late Dr. H.L. "Doc" Shipman and Charlotte Shipman. His parents owned and operated the Chouteau Clinic for many years in Chouteau, Oklahoma. Married for over 42 years to his wife, Pamela, they have one daughter, Christina Shipman, who is also a licensed funeral director and works alongside her father at the Funeral Home. Steve is a member of the First Church of God in Pryor, a Master Mason in the Pryor Creek Masonic Lodge, a member of the Shrine in which he helps to raise awareness and funds for the Shriner's Hospitals and our area children in need of their services. Steve is an avid outdoorsman and enjoys spending with his grandchildren.
Pamela Shipman is the wife of Steve Shipman and co-owner of Shipman's Funeral & Cremation Service. She graduated from Wagoner High School in 1978 and obtained her associate degree in Management and Marketing from OSU Okmulgee. Pamela holds her insurance license with the State of Oklahoma and assists families with preneed funeral arrangements. Pamela and Steve have one daughter, Christina. She is a member of the First Church of God of Pryor, serves on the Board of the Pryor Academic Excellence Foundation, is past President of the Pryor Creek Sertoma Club and a Charter Associate Member of the Mayes County Blue Star Mothers. She enjoys traveling with her husband, Steve, and spending time with her family and grandchildren.
Christina graduated from Pryor High School Class of 2006 and became a licensed Funeral Director / Embalmer, graduating from the University of Central Oklahoma in 2013. Christina is the only child of Pam and Steve Shipman. Christina married Daniel Morrison who is the Culinary Instructor at Northeast Tech in Pryor. She is the current President of the Oklahoma Funeral Directors Association and sits on the Executive Board of the Pryor Area Chamber of Commerce. She is also a licensed insurance agent, specializing in pre - arrangement and life insurance.
Caitlin Snell, the daughter of Jerome and Tina Snell of Rose, grew up in the Delaware and Mayes County area. She is the granddaughter of the late Curtis Snell, the late Leetha Snell, and Beta Sapp. She graduated from Kansas High School with the class of 2012. She also attended college at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M in Miami, Oklahoma. She has two children, Brooks and Ruby Dale. Caitlin joined our staff in July of 2021. She enjoys spending time with her children, family and friends, and has a passion for serving others and her community.
Les Davis is a Lifelong resident of Pryor, graduated from Pryor High School Class of 1977
He attended Tulsa Junior College and then Attended Dallas Institute of Mortuary Service
Graduating in 1985. He became a licensed Funeral Director with the State of Oklahoma in 1986.
He was married to Carol Morris on Feb. 18, 1989. He worked for Key Funeral Homes in Pryor and Locust Grove for some 22 yrs. He then began working for Shipman's Funeral and Cremation Service in Pryor in 2007.
Mike Dunham has lived in the Mayes County Area since 1997. He married Shannon (Castoe) Dunham in 2002, and together have twin boys, Joel and Drew. Mike is the Deputy Director of Mayes County Emergency Management, a volunteer with Pryor Fire Department, and a licensed paramedic. Mike is an active leader with the Boy Scout Troop 83 in Pryor and stays actively involved with his community. He has worked for our Funeral Home for the last 9 years. Mike is a big part of the Shipman Family and takes great pride in helping families when they have lost a loved one.
Roy Kerns graduated from Salina High School in 1997 and married Carla (Gay) Kerns in 2003. Together, they have one daughter, Kenzley. Roy has worked for Red Crown Federal Credit Union for several years. He enjoys spending time with family and friends. He loves his community and has a passion for helping.
Clay Earl Rice was raised & graduated in Salina, Oklahoma with the class of 1974. He continued his education at NSU and received a BS in Education degree in May 1978. On August 26, 1978 he married Tonda Jean Littlefield who was raised in Pryor, Oklahoma and graduated with the class of 1974 in Pryor. They have 2 grown children Caleb Rice who is a graduate of OSU and lives in Colorado Springs, Colorado and is a National Sales Manager for the 5 diamond/5 star Broadmoor Hotel in Colorado Springs. Katie Rice lives in Inola, Oklahoma and is a graduate of RSU with her Associate’s in nursing and received her BS in Nursing in May of 2019, she is a charge nurse in the trauma/triage of St. Johns ER in Tulsa.
Clay owns their business C & R Oil Company, Inc., in Pryor along with his wife Tonda. The business has been located in the same location since 1944. Their business is a branded distributor for Sinclair Oil Company, they sell gasoline, diesel fuel, oils, greases, & antifreeze not only in Mayes county but also surrounding counties of Craig, Delaware, Cherokee, Wagoner, Rogers, Nowata, & Ottawa counties.
The company motto is: “Selling Quality Products with Reliable Service since 1944. In their spare time they enjoy traveling, cruising, estate sales, and helping out anywhere they can with Shipman Funeral Home & Cremation Service.
Mary graduated from Chouteau High School in 1957 and married the love of her life, Leon Blankenship in 1958. They have two children, Mark Blankenship and Sonya Donnelly and also have 4 grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren. Mary spent 19 years in the Banking industry as office manager at Taylor Precision in Tulsa, Oklahoma. She then retired in 2005 from the Town of Chouteau. Mary has been with Shipman's since 2010 and loved helping the bereaved in any way she can.
Michael Bartgis has lived in the Mayes County area for the last 10 years. He is married to Sharmie (Hughes) Bartgis and they have 4 children and 1 grandchild. Michael has been in the nursing industry for over 25 years before retiring. He enjoys riding motorcycles, spending time outdoors, and going camping with his family and furbabies.
Jerold Pilant has lived in the Mayes County area for all of his life. He married the love of his life, Linda Gann, on August 12, 1972. He has been active in ministry for 35 years and has pastored Pleasant View Baptist Church for 31 years of his ministry. He is now the Pastor of Heritage Southern Baptist Church in Pryor. He has a helping heart and loves to be there for those in need.
