Funeral service for Mary Myrtle Kipple, 94, will be Thursday, September 21, 2023 at 3:00 PM at Center Cemetery, Lawrence County, AL with Rev. Brian Culbreath (nephew) officiating and Peck Funeral Home directing.
Ms. Kipple was born September 20, 1928, at Hartselle, AL to Elmer E. and Novie Jackson Kipple. She passed into Heaven on Thursday, September 14 at the age of 94 . . . at Summerford Nursing Home.
She is preceded in death by her parents and one sister: Elsie Florence Kipple Culbreath.
She is survived by one brother-in-law: Albert Coy Culbreath, Hartselle; two nephews: Dr. Albert Culbreath and Rev. Leeann, Tifton, GA; Rev. Brian Culbreath and Rita, Hartselle, AL; one great niece: Garland Culbreath and Kathryn, Vestavia, AL; three great nephews: Micah Culbreath, Birmingham, AL and Zeke & Abe Culbreath, Tifton, GA; one great-great nephew: Griffin York Monroe, Vestavia, AL.
When attending elementary schools at Cedar Creek and Hartselle City (Burleson), Mary was on the calisthenics teams and participated in many field day events.
While attending Morgan County High School (Hartselle H.S.) she played softball and basketball and was a student council representative. She graduated in 1947.
After high school, Mary worked at the Decatur Goodyear Mills and received a 5 – year pin in 1952 for her work as an Automatic Spooler. When her time at Goodyear had ended, she attended Athens College and graduated in 1958 with a B.A. in English.
Ms. Kipple taught English at Eva and Speake Schools. She was also, senior sponsor. After thirty years, she retired from Speake School and continued working at Cedar Springs Assisted Living in Decatur, AL.
Mary joined a community church at an early age. She was active in the Youth Council of Hartselle Camp Meeting Association 1936 – 1947. She was a member of the former Central Christian Church from 1970 until it dissolved. At that time, she attended Flint Baptist 2008 – 2011 until she became disabled. She was a member of the American Bible Society, A.E.A., N.E.A., and several Humane Societies.
Mary enjoyed hiking and collecting plants in the woods. Loving flowers like her mother and grandmother, she had many yard and house plants as long as able to do so. She rescued and cared for many abandoned cats and dogs. On her 80th birthday, her only need, she said, was a hatchet for yard work.
Memorials may be made to: Hartselle Camp Meeting . PO Box 163 . Hartselle, AL . 35640
