CLARENCE TIPTON

LAMAR-Services will be held at 11 a.m. Monday at Daniel Funeral Home for Clarence Robert Tipton, 89, Lamar, who died early Thursday morning, May 19, 2016, at Missouri Veterans Home in Mt. Vernon, following a long illness. Visitation will be held prior to the service, beginning at 10 a.m. Burial will be in Memory Gardens Cemetery.

Memorial contributions are suggested to Lamar United Methodist Church or Barton County Senior Center.

Condolences and memories may be shared at www.danielfuneralhome.net.

Survivors include his wife of nearly 64 years, Betty; a son, Robert Tipton and wife Debbie, Stott City; a daughter, Tracy Rogers and husband Steve, Rocky Comfort; six grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren and a large extended family.

He was preceded in death by his only sister, Gladys (Tipton) Lay.

Mr. Tipton was born March 4, 1927, near St. James, to William Clarence and Katie (Kunzman) Tipton. In the spring of 1945 he graduated from St. James High School and entered into active duty in the U.S. Army on July 11, 1945. He served as a personnel clerk and rifleman in Company L, 3rd Infantry Regiment in Germany during World War II. Returning home in 1947, he began his career in the grocery business by loading trucks for A&P Grocery in St. Louis. He married Betty Ann Massie on Aug. 9, 1952, at Malden, and they made their home in Lamar, owning and operating Tipton Superette for 10 years. He then worked as a butcher for MFA/Vern's Food Fair in Golden City until retiring in 1992.

An avid outdoorsman, Mr. Tipton, or C.R. (as some knew him), enjoyed raising cattle on his Barton County Farm. His favorite pastimes were those that included family and friends – coaching youth baseball, fishing and hunting quail. He will be remembered by many for his work ethic, integrity and his ready smile and pleasant attitude regardless of challenges. He served others as an active member of VFW Post 3691, an elder of Carthage Presbyterian Church for many years and as a faithful member of Lamar United Methodist Church.