Mary Ellen Tippin

Mary Ellen Tippin, 88, of Sterling, passed away June 28, 2018 at her home in Sterling. She was born July 1, 1929 in Iola, KS, the daughter of Vernon and Lois (Colton) Wallace. She grew up on a homestead ranch in southeast Colorado. Soon after her graduation from Pritchett High School, Pritchett, CO in 1947 she moved with her parents to Sterling, KS. Mary Ellen received a secretarial diploma from Adela Hale Business College in Hutchinson, KS in 1948. She worked as a legal secretary in Sterling before her marriage to Robert Earl “Bob” Tippin on May 16, 1951 in Liberal, KS. She was the secretary for the United Presbyterian Church, Sterling for twenty-seven years. Mary Ellen was a member of the Sterling United Presbyterian Church where she served as a deacon and financial secretary following her retirement. She was a Girl Scout leader for many years; member of the Sterling Silver Threads; volunteered at the Thrift Shop, Lyons and the Sterling Presbyterian Manor. In recent years she was very active at the Sterling Wellness Center and enjoyed being a writer for Sterling Services. She was preceded in death by her husband July 9, 1983, her parents and infant sister Frances Ruth Wallace. She is survived by her daughter, Teresa and Richard Ferguson of Lincoln, NE; son, Robert Wallace “Wally” and Peggy Tippin of Waukee, IA; five grandchildren, Ben Ferguson (Alice), Ryan Ferguson, Andrew Tippin (Brooke), Krista Tippin, and Kaytlin Tippin. Funeral service will be 10:00 A.M., Friday, July 6, 2018 at the United Presbyterian Church, Sterling with Pastor Melissa Krabbe officiating. Burial will be at the Sterling Community Cemetery, Sterling. Visitation will be from 2:00 to 7:00 P.M., Thursday, July 5, 2018 at Birzer Funeral Home, Sterling with family present from 5:00 to 7:00 P.M. Memorials can be made to Sterling College – Tippin Scholarship Fund in care of Birzer Funeral Home, Sterling.

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