James Shipley of Tipton died July 21 at his home in Tipton. Shipley was the last living Tuskegee Airman living in Missouri.

Three of Shipley’s nephews are in the process of turning the now defunct black school in Tipton into the James Shipley Museum of African History.

Shipley’s nephews want to turn the building into a memorial their Uncle James as well as to those that attended the school during its 70 year history.

According to a local former commissioner of Saline County, Charlie Guthrie who was friends with Shipley, had this to say about meeting him.

Guthrie went on to discuss how he became friends with Shipley and what kind of man he was.

Guthrie then went on to say that Shipley lived his life to the fullest and was an honorable man.

Photo courtesy of Patriot Features.org