Ralph Shively

Ralph H. “Whitey” Shively

Whitey Shively, 81, a life-long resident of Mt. Summit, Indiana, left this earth yesterday, June 7, 2009, following a brief illness.

Whitey was born in a farmhouse east of town on September 22, 1927 to Mary Chambers and James Blaine Shively. He was the 10th of 12 children raised on the Shively farm, known as Sleepy Hollow, on State Road 36. His great-grandfather was one of the original founders of Mt. Summit, in 1831, and a Shively has lived there ever since.

At the age of 13, he began an auctioneering career that was second to none, and continued to earn multiple awards and achievements for the rest of his life. He was the 2003 recipient of the Bernie Hart Memorial Trophy from the National Auto Auction Association, and was presented a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2007, by the Indiana Auctioneers Association. At the time of his death, he was still employed at the Kesler-Schaefer Auto Auction in Indianapolis, a job he had held for over 60 years.

A veteran of the Korean War, he married Phyllis June Sidwell on February 22, 1953. After 51 years of marriage, she preceded him in death on January 14, 2004. Whitey was very active in the community, serving as a one-time president of the Blue River Valley School Board, a member and president of the Henry County Memorial Park Board, a life-long servant of the Mt. Summit Christian Church, a member of the VFW, the Elks, and the American Legion, a member of the Sulphur Springs Lodge #348 F.&A.M., and the Scottish Rite Valley of Indianapolis. In 1984, he proudly joined the Murat Shrine with his son.

A treasured episode in his life occurred when his daughter invited him to work on the film, “Hoosiers.” He portrayed Doc Buggins, working alongside Gene Hackman and Dennis Hopper. He sure “got a lot of mileage out of that.”

Survivors include his son and daughter-in-law, Don and Laura Shively of Angola, Indiana; daughter Debby Shively and son-in-law Rick Parks of Los Angeles; two treasured grandchildren, Jack and Lilly Shively Parks; sister Mary Lou (husband Cloyd) Dye of New Castle; brother Dick (wife Mary Alice) Shively and brother Chet (wife Marilyn) Shively, all of southern Indiana; sister-in-law Judy (husband James) Savage of Florida; brother-in-law Don (wife Helen) Sidwell, also of Florida; brother-in-law Dallas (wife Sharon) Sidwell of New Castle; sister-in-law Joanne Land of Ohio; numerous nieces and nephews, and thousands of children through the years who will never forget their “Uncle Whitey.” Anyone who still has a “get out of jail free card” that has not been redeemed, please bring it to the service.

Friends may call at the Hinsey-Brown Funeral Home, 3406 South Memorial Drive, New Castle, from 4-8 p.m. on Wednesday, June 10, with a Masonic service commencing at 8 p.m. Services will be held on Thursday, June 11, at 5:30 p.m. at the Mt. Summit Christian Church, graveside services to follow at the Mt. Summit Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations in Whitey’s name to the Mt. Summit Christian Church, or another charity of the donor’s choice.