About Us

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 is a Licensed Funeral Director who was born and raised in the Delaware and Mayes County area. A proud 2012 graduate of Kansas High School, she went on to study at NEO before pursuing Mortuary Administration at the University of Central Oklahoma, where she earned her Funeral Director’s license. Her work is driven by a genuine passion for serving others.

Caitlin is the proud mother of two children, Brooks and Ruby. She is engaged to Trent Monk and together they are building a home on their land in rural Mayes County where they own and operate Flying M Cattle. Outside of her professional life, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, and attending concerts.

She is the daughter of Jerome and Tina Snell, the granddaughter of Roberta and Billy Joe Sapp, and the late Curtis and Leetha Snell. Her strong family ties and community values have helped shape the dedicated and kind-hearted person she is today.

Amanda is no stranger to caring for others. A proud 2010 graduate of Inola High School, she went on to study at Northeastern State University while working in the nursing field, caring for the elderly with compassion and dedication.

In 2014, she married her husband Dusty, and together they’re raising four wonderful children — Traceston, Rayden, Kynlee, and Everlee. Recently, they finished building their forever home in Chouteau, where Amanda loves hosting family cookouts and holiday gatherings.

After being blessed to stay home with her children for the past eight years, Amanda is excited to begin a new chapter by joining the Shipman’s Funeral Home family. She looks forward to serving our community with a warm smile, a helping hand, and the same care she has always shown to those around her.

Michael Bartgis has called the Mayes County area home for over 15 years. He is married to Sharmie (Hughes) Bartgis, and together they have been blessed with three living children, one son who has passed, and one grandchild.

Before retiring, Michael dedicated more than 25 years to the nursing industry, where he poured his heart into caring for others. Around the funeral home, he’s known as the “everything guy”—always ready to step in wherever he’s needed and make sure things get done.

Outside of work, Michael enjoys riding motorcycles, playing golf, spending time outdoors, and going camping with his family and their beloved furbabies. His strong work ethic, servant’s heart, and love for his family and community make him an invaluable part of the Shipman family.

Since 2004, I’ve been honored to sit down with families, listen to their stories, and help them take care of one of the most meaningful decisions they’ll ever make—planning ahead for the day they’re called home.

By putting your wishes in writing and securing today’s prices, you’re giving your loved ones the greatest gift: peace of mind. Let’s visit about the options available to you and find a plan that reflects your needs and values.

Come see me—we’ll talk, share ideas, and make sure everything is arranged exactly how you want it.

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 proudly called the Mayes County area home since 1997. In 2002, he married his wife, Shannon (Castoe) Dunham, and together they were blessed with twin boys, Joel and Drew. Family is the heart of Mike’s life, and that same devotion carries into the way he serves his community.

Mike currently serves as the Deputy Director of Mayes County Emergency Management, volunteers with the Pryor Fire Department, and works as a licensed paramedic with MESTA. His commitment to protecting and caring for others extends well beyond his professional roles—he has always been someone neighbors can count on in times of need.

For the past 14 years, Mike has also been an integral part of the Shipman Funeral Home family. He is a familiar, trusted face to so many in the community and takes tremendous pride in walking alongside families during some of their most difficult days. With his steady presence, compassion, and servant’s heart, Mike embodies what it means to be both a dedicated professional and a true friend to those he helps.

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, with the class of 1974 in Salina. Clay 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 1974 class in Pryor. They just celebrated their 47th wedding anniversary.

They have 2 grown children, Caleb Rice, who is a graduate of OSU with a Bachelor’s Degree in (HRAD) Hotel Restaurant Management and resides in Colorado Springs, Colorado and is a National Sales Manager for The Rancho Bernardo Inn in San Diego, California while working from his home. Caleb has the only grandchild, three and half year-old William August Burns-Rice who is the light for his Poppop and Nonna. Katie Rice, lives in Inola, Oklahoma and is a graduate of RSU with her Associate’s degree in nursing and received her Bachelor’s degree in nursing in May of 2019, she is a trauma/triage nurse of St. Johns ER in Broken Arrow.

Clay owns their business C & R Oil Company, Inc., in Pryor along with his wife Tonda. The business has been in the same location since 1944. Their business is a branded distributor for Sinclair Oil Company, they sell fuels and lubricants, not only in Mayes County but also in surrounding counties in Northeast Oklahoma. Their company motto is: “Selling Quality Products with Reliable Service since 1944.”

Clay & Tonda, in their spare time they enjoy traveling the United States and other countries in the world, enjoy cruising, and going to estate sales. They both enjoy helping anywhere they can with Shipman Funeral Home & Cremation Services. Clay has been helping where he is needed for the past ten plus years and he feels it is a great ministry while serving the community families during this difficult time with Shipman’s Funeral Home here in Pryor.

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.