Dorothy Tippett

Dorothy Pieper Tippett was born September 26, 1923 in Payson, Arizona, to Laura (Beard) and Ernest Pieper, both from Gila County pioneer families. They lived on a ranch on the East Verde and then later on Main Street before moving to Globe when Dorothy was in fourth grade. After graduating from Globe High School in 1941, she attended Arizona Teachers College (now NAU) for two years in their secretarial program. She was elected secretary of her class but actually served as president when the president and vice-president were called into military service. Returning to Globe, she worked in the office of one of the mining companies, in the Gila County Assessor’s office, and then in the Gila County Attorney’s office where she met her future husband, County Attorney Frank Tippett, whom she married on December 7, 1946. Dorothy was active in the community having served as a member (and in a variety of offices/positions) of First Presbyterian Church, Gila County Historical Society/Museum, Daughters of Gila County Pioneers, Tuesday Book Club, Beta Sigma Phi, VFW Auxiliary, and American Field Service. As a young woman, Dorothy loved to dance and would often travel to Tonto Basin or Pleasant Valley---wherever there was a band and a dance floor. She was a talented pianist and seamstress who sewed doll dresses, dance costumes, prom dresses, and baby layettes for the hospital throughout the years and also crocheted and embroidered. She especially loved to travel: by car, air, train, ship, steamboat, horseback---she was ready to go. She was the TV mom who attended all her kids’ events, made cupcakes for school, chaperoned dances, taught Sunday school---and then became the perfect TV grandma. In all things, she was both delightful and delighted. Dorothy was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, and her brother and sister-in-law, Fred and Clarice Pieper. She is survived by daughters Sue Jones and Diane Sylvester (Bill Speich), granddaughter Michelle Sylvester (Rob Ruehrmund), grandson Steve (Nancy) Sylvester, nieces Vicki (Tom) Evans and Judi (Bobby) Holmes, five great-grandchildren---Alexis Epps, CJ Ruehrmund, Lance, Jace, and Abby Sylvester---plus countless cousins and friends, as well as the staff and residents of Haven of Globe who became her adopted family for the last three years. Memorial contributions may be made to the First Presbyterian Church (PO Box 1362; Globe, AZ 85502) or the Gila County Historical Museum (PO Box 2891; Globe 85502). A memorial service