Evelyn LaJune Tipton

History: They say a cat has nine lives and perhaps that is true. Yet, today we honor our mom, our Doddle, our “June," and our friend who has truly lived nine lives. The first life mom lived was growing up on a ranch with her siblings in Wheeler County among the horses, cows, and hungry ranch hands. Mom learned to be a scratch cook while cooking for these folks as a young girl, often riding her horse to school. The second life was with a handsome, dashing young man named J.C. Tipton, our dad, who literally swept her off her feet and carried her to a place called Borger, Texas. The third life was one of having children, losing her firstborn son, followed by three girls, and raising a family. These were hard years, but full of promise and a bright future. During this life, grandchildren became added blessings to our family, and mom became "Doddle" to all of them. The fourth life was one living in Stavanger, Norway, where mom and dad literally traveled the world to visit “94” countries, according to mom’s calculations, and collected treasures from around the world. The fifth life found them back in Borger to enjoy retirement years. More grandchildren and even great grandchildren were added to the family. Once again, mom and dad traveled, camped, fished, and enjoyed being a couple again. These were truly the golden years. The sixth life found mom a widow lost without her beloved mate, so she built a home in Amarillo and moved from the life she had known. As an officer of “The Widow’s Club,” as mom liked to call it, she made many friends and wonderful memories. The seventh life brought another move to Brookdale Retirement Center, where she lived for many years gathering friends and memories along the way. After a terrible fall breaking her hip, the eighth life brought her to surgery, a therapy hospital with Covid outbreaks, and the loss of mobility and independence. The ninth life brought our beloved June to Hidden Happiness Care Home, where she has lived for the last year of her life with people who truly loved her, cared for her, prayed for her, and sustained her through some very difficult days along with those of us who call her mom. There are not enough words to thank these beautiful people.

Through all of the nine lives that our mom has lived, her guiding faith in Christ, her constant prayers for her children, her grands and her greats, have given our family a legacy of love, faith, and commitment to do what’s right, no matter what life may bring our way. We honor June Tipton today with all of our hearts and thank her for living her long life with such courage, such strength, such stubbornness, and a will to live. We love you, mom. Thank you for everything.

Memorials: We honor Hidden Happiness Care Home, our beloved Jessica and Del Wilson, and our “Bree”. With their tender and constant loving care of our mom, we were able to share another year with her. We love these people. They are our family. Thank you, sisters!

Survivors

Daughters: Karen Lynette and Larry Blankenship, Fritch, Texas; Dr. Janet Lanell and Scott Hindman, Canyon, Texas; and Terri Denise and Lee Gross, Plano, Texas.

Brother-in-Law: Ronnie and Marcia Tipton, Georgetown/Sun City, Texas

Sister-in-Law: Juanita Williams, Corpus Christi, Texas

Grandchildren

Richard and Wendy Blankenship, Amarillo, Texas; Kimberley and Bart Bayless, Amarillo, Texas; Kristi Kindy, Borger, Texas; Daresa and Matt Rhine, Stephenville, Texas; and Kelby Dodson, Canyon, Texas; Summer and Zak Pearce, Plano, Texas; and Kyndra Gross, Plano, Texas

Great Grandchildren

Hayden and Hannah Blankenship, Amarillo, Texas; Hunter Blankenship, Katy, Texas; Sidney Bayless, Weatherford, Oklahoma; Gracelyn, Berkley, and Samuel Bayless, Amarillo, Texas; Jordan McDonald, Yukon, Oklahoma; Braden and Marie Tyree, Jacksonville, North Carolina; Judson Tyree, Londyn and Brinlee Kindy, Borger, Texas; Braelyn and Makaelyn Rhine, Stephenville, Texas; Caroline and Jack Pearce, Plano, Texas.

Great-Great Grandchildren

Ryder and Braelyn McDonald, Yukon, Oklahoma; Parker and Ila Tyree, Jacksonville, North Carolina

Nieces, Nephews, and Friends

Numerous loving nieces, nephews, and friends.

Preceded in Death by:

Married in 1947, husband of 53 years, J.C. Tipton (November 13, 2000); son. J.C. Tipton, Jr. (June 30, 1948); Parents: father, Judson Denny Johnson (May 8, 1968); mother, Lillian Mattie Brown Johnson Bush (Feb. 9, 1997); sister, Helen Marie (June 26, 2021) and Melvin May (Dec. 8, 2001); brothers, J.T. (June 16, 1999) and Gloria Edwina Brown Johnson (March 30, 2015), and David Royce “Teedle” Johnson (July 18, 1953).