Irene Betty Botham Shipps, age 87, of Iola, Kansas, died Thursday, March 1, 2012, at the Allen County Hospital in Iola. Irene was born February 7, 1925, near Wakefield, Kansas, the daughter of George Avery and Marie (Christensen) Babb. The family moved from Wakefield to Fiscus, Iowa, then to the Junction City, Kansas area until she was 12. She settled with her family in Coffey County near LeRoy where she graduated from high school. On January 23, 1944, Irene married Geldard M. "Bob" Botham in Burlington and they made their home in Burlington until moving to Iola in 1949. They owned and operated Botham Sewing Center until Mr. Botham died November 13, 1976. She sold the business to Bob Garver. On June 26, 1978, Irene married John L. Shipps and they made their home in Iola. Mr. Shipps preceded her in death on August 22, 2009. Irene enjoyed sewing and craftwork, gardening and yardwork and reading and watching T.V. in her later years. She has been a member of the Goodwill Club in Iola since 1979. SURVIVORS: 2 Nephews: David Michael Burgess of Midland, Michigan, and Steven Richard Burgess of Dania Beach, Florida 1 Niece: Lisa Anne Arndt of New York, New York She was preceded in death by her son, Jeffrey Kent Botham on March 9, 1976, and by her sister, Margaret Ilene Burgess Arndt. FUNERAL SERVICE: 1:00 p.m., Tuesday, March 6, 2012, at the Waugh-Yokum & Friskel Chapel in Iola BURIAL: Highland Cemetery, Iola, Kansas MEMORIAL: American Heart Association Memorial gifts may be left with the Waugh-Yokum & Friskel Memorial Chapel of Iola, which is in charge of arrangements. Online condolences for the family may be left on this website, www.iolafuneral.com.