JoAnn B. Stipp

Mother was born September 18, 1934 in Bowring, Oklahoma to William Homer and Emily Jane (Kelly) Timmons. She was the 5th and final addition to a loving and hardworking family. When Mom was young her daddy was able to buy his own land in Tahlequah where the family has been ever since. She referred to it as the "old home place" and shared many fond memories of growing up there: swinging on a rope in the barn, riding Cricket to get the mail, a sea of yellow chicks, a one room schoolhouse. She wore flour sack dresses and ran barefoot, promised not to tell on Forrest when he drove too fast, and stomped walnuts so she could earn Christmas money.

After graduating from high school at 16, Mom spent a year working as a switchboard operator for the phone company to save for college. She shared an apartment with 4 other girls and would occasionally treat herself to a slice of bologna from the deli downstairs. Mom met Dad during college at a dance, were soon married, and moved to Arvada where they put down roots.

Mom used to tell me that she carried EVERYTHING: water, milk, eggs, wood, and 3 babies. On the eve of my birth she actually scrubbed the kitchen floor on her hands and knees. She was amazing that way, taking on the world with confidence. She taught school for 36 years, children's Sunday School, adult ladies Sunday School, and Bible Study Fellowship. At the same time she nurtured us and made sure we lacked for nothing, that we had opportunities in life, even at her own expense. Many years she put cardboard in the soles of her shoes to patch holes and went without a winter coat in the freezing Colorado weather. Mom was selfless. She believed in family as a source of comfort and strength. To that end, she planned family reunions, grandchildren vacations, and holiday festivities. When Dad started to decline, she held him up and told him he was OK because they were together. Now they are together again where there is no sorrow, only joy.

Mom was preceded in death by her loving husband Billy Stanford Stipp, brother Louie Elwood Timmons, sister Lorraine Elisa (Timmons) Thompson, brother Forrest Howard Timmons, sister Mary Lou (Timmons) Davis and is survived by daughter Debra DeAnn (Stipp) Gibson and husband Jeff, daughter Jana Beth (Stipp) Ford and husband Robert, daughter Julie Renee (Stipp) Hoefler and husband Carey Napoleon, seven grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren. She influenced all of our lives.

My sisters and I want to thank you for honoring Mom with your presence here today and invite you to stay for the reception following the entombment.

Jana