Connie Joan (Shipp) Foretich

Connie Joan (Shipp) Foretich, “Mama Connie,” 65, of Commerce, passed away, after a lengthy battle with breast cancer, on Thursday, June 17, 2021. She was born on January 18, 1956, in Grapevine, Texas, the daughter of Carl Shipp and Florence Luckett Shipp. A memorial service will take place on Saturday, July 10, 2021, at 10:00 a.m. at Commerce Funeral Home in Commerce, TX.

Connie was born in Grapevine, and lived in Irving until she was in the 6th grade when her mom moved her family to Royse City, where she lived until she was eighteen. From 1974 until 1980 she lived in Garland, near her brother Doug.  In 1980 she moved into her first house in Rowlett, where her second and third children were born.  In 1984, she and her family moved into her childhood home in Royse City. In 1989, Connie and her three children moved to Commerce, while she attended East Texas State University (ETSU), where she earned her bachelor’s degree in 1990.

Connie’s greatest desire was to share the love of the Lord, and she loved to study the Jewish roots of her Christian faith. She opened her home to bible studies, prayer meetings and fellowship gatherings. She ministered at the local jail and hospital and mentored many individuals. She has various, “spiritual sons and daughters.”  She was a faithful friend to many. Connie was known for being perky, joyful, and fun to be around.  She had a fairly substantial circle of friends and family, and will be missed by many.

Connie is survived by her three children, Heather Lauren Shaw, Devin Thomas Shaw, and Colleen Rene Shaw: her siblings, Gloria Kay Freeman, Douglas Lee Shipp, Roger Quin Shipp and half-sister Carla Lines, as well as numerous nieces, nephews, grandnieces, and grandnephews.

She was preceded in death by her second husband, Kenneth “Kenny” Foretich, her father Carl Shipp, and mother Florence Baldwin.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that gifts be given to Red Light Church (https://redlightchurch.com/donate/).