Erma Lea Tipton

Erma Lea Tipton, age 96, went home to the Lord October 18th, 2017. Erma was one of the eight children born to Willie Lee and Beulah Erma (Milner) Smith. She is survived by her sister Thelma Street of West Des Moines, Ia. And her beloved sister-in-law Mary Watson of Denver, Co. Three children Patricia Sue Tipton and Charles Lee Tipton (Gayann) of Unionville, Mo and Martha Lou Fowler of Saint Joseph, Mo. Patricia’s son, David Patrick Gough, Lee’s children, Allen and Cathy Sims, Lou’s children, Keona Stephens (John) and Jeremy Fowler and Ed’s children, Staci Eddings, Trisha, Megan and Kelsey. Several great grandchildren and great-great grandchildren also survive. She was preceded in death by her husband Kenneth in 1996, son Kenneth Edward, a grandson Kenneth David, her parents and six of her siblings. Brothers Wood Dean (Sam), John, Jack, Paul, Ralph (Pete) and sister Anna Mae (Sue).

Erma was born April 23, 1921 and raised in Northeast Grundy County. She attended rural schools in Grundy and Sullivan County. She then went to Beauty School in Kansas City and operated her own shop in Newtown, Mo. Erma went to San Francisco and married her sailor April 11, 1944. After Kenneth’s discharge in 1945 they settled on a farm just north of Kirksville, Mo. In 1949 they bought their first farm in Mercer County. They moved to Idaho in 1955, Washington in 1956, Minnesota in 1957 and back to Missouri in 1958. They owned and operated a farm in western Putnam County until 1972 when they moved to Unionville to serve as County Sheriff. Erma continued to live in the home until going to the Putnam County Care Center in 2013.

Erma was Baptized as a young girl and was a member of the Unionville First Christian Church. In Erma’s own words, she listed her achievements as “Raised four wonderful children, served 25 years as a volunteer for The American Cancer Society and was married to Kenneth Tipton for 52 years.” In those 52 years Erma was truly a helpmate, whether the job was milking cows or manning the county sheriff’s office. As a mother she was devoted to her children, nursing them through illness and injuries and being their number on fan in any of their achievements. “Granny,” as her grandchildren called her, doted on each one, so that each knew they were her favorite. But more importantly through her example Erma instilled her morals and Christian values in each member that came to be part of her family.

Erma enjoyed gardening, traveling to Southern Texas in the winter, and being actively involved in raising her generations of family. She made friends wherever she went, ending her journey in the care of the dear friends at the Putnam County Care Center.