Carol Shipley

On Thursday, January 8, 2026, Carol Shipley, significant other to Roger C. Clark, sister, mother, loving grandmother, and friend, passed away comfortably at Willard Walker Hospice in Fayetteville, AR. Carol was born on December 10th, 1951, in Camden AR, to Carl Shipley and Billee Joe Workman-Shipley. Carol was the perfect mixture of spicy and sweet. She was fiercely loyal to her family and friends and if she was in your corner, she was solidly in it. In 1952 Carol contracted one of the last known cases of Polio as it was being eradicated from the United States due to the creation of the Polio vaccine and underwent many surgeries to allow her to walk & she spent many years in leg braces. She married Ronald Fabian in 1974 while going to school to become a Registered Nurse and had her two daughters. Then unfortunately, Carol was injured in 1978 and was unable to walk without the aid of crutches. Despite having physical challenges and over 40 years of needing either 1 or 2 crutches to walk, it did not slow her down. Her motto in life was “I CAN and I WILL” – heaven forbid you tell her she couldn’t do something. Over the course of her life, she had over 30+ surgeries to correct problems with her body, however, she refused to miss out on anything in life and participated in any activity she wanted to, such as: riding horses & 4- wheelers, riding motorcycles, taking trips, doing her own driving/shopping, eating out, and attending family events. There was nothing she allowed her disability to keep her from missing out on. In 1980, she married a Canadian man and moved with him and her two daughters to Canada where she lived on a homestead with chickens, horses and goats. The life in Canada was rough and the temperatures cold, but Carol managed a household without running water or electricity, and the raising of her two daughters while in that harsh environment. In 1992, she met the love of her life, Roger Clark, and they have been together since navigating life with adult daughters, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Their story is one of resilience, trust, good times and bad times, and an overwhelming love for one another until the very end with Roger holding her hand and whispering in her ear. Carol was preceded in death by her parents, and her siblings Caryn Jean Shipley, Curtis Shipley, her twin Carl Shipley, Ralph Shipley & James (Jim) Shipley. She is survived by her two daughters Jessica Wood of Elkins, AR and Monica Cato of West Fork, AR, two brothers Cory Keaulana of Rancho Cordova, CA and Casey Shipley location unknown. She has 5 grandchildren: Britanny Underhill. Jacob Randall, Cory Wood, Christian Wood and Caydence Fabian-Putnam. She had 3 great grandchildren: Adalie Underhill, Leah Underhill and Baine Wolf. She will be missed by many family members and friends. Her funeral arrangements are being made by Sisco Funeral Chapel in Springdale AR and there will be a graveside service on Tuesday, January 13th at 11 am at Oakland Cemetery 4059 N. Old Wire Rd. Fayetteville AR, 72703.

Carol Shipley

December 10, 1951 - January 8, 2026