Dorothy "Dot" Rose Eckard Sipe

Dorothy “Dot” Rose Eckard Sipe, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, passed peacefully into eternal glory with her Creator on Tuesday, March 11, 2014 after a period of declining health at Conover Nursing Home. The daughter of Clyde Andrew and Merlie Hollar Eckard, Dot grew up in the St. Stephens community. She was baptized and confirmed at St. Stephens Lutheran Church, Missouri Synod. Dot met the love of her life, Joe Neill Sipe, at St. Stephens School and graduated in 1945; they married on June 26, 1948 and celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary last year. Dot and Joe reared their family in Christian love at Mt. Zion Lutheran Church-Conover. Dot was the charter teacher and director of Mt. Zion Lutheran’s kindergarten class where she lovingly nurtured community children for 15 years. Dot drove the school bus for Mt. Zion and later for Clyde Campbell Elementary School. She also served Catawba County Schools until 1988 working in both Clyde Campbell Elementary and St. Stephens High Schools.

Dot is preceded in death by her sisters, Betty Carole Eckard Lail and Jo Anne Killian, both of Hickory.

Dot’s love for children and family are evident not only in her life dedicated to education but to the three generations that serve as her legacy.

Left to cherish Dot’s memory, in addition to her husband, Joe Neill Sipe of Hickory, are her children and their spouses: Neill Eckard Sipe (Laura) of Claremont, Joel Duane Sipe (Debbie) of Hickory, Scottie Sue Sipe Smith (Dale) of Newton; grandchildren Kevin Neill Sipe (Erin) of Hickory, Jason Duane Sipe of Hickory, Brian Joseph Sipe (Jessica) of Moore, SC, Marie Sipe McDaniel (Cameron) of Lewisville, NC, Brenton Dale Smith of Winston-Salem, NC, Nicholas Landon Sipe of Hickory, NC; nine great-grandchildren, Tyler, Kara, Anna, Keegan, Jeremiah, Tatum, Eli, Sarah Frances, and Abby; along with numerous beloved nieces and nephews.