Lily Ellen (Johnson) Tripp

Lily Ellen (Johnson) Tripp, 94, died March 6, 2011. She was born February 1, 1917 in Buckhorn, Missouri, to Charles O. and Edna (Henson) Johnson.

She married Gale Tripp on January 15, 1943, while he was home on furlough from the Army. They didn’t see each other again for three years. After he returned from the war, they were never apart and many said they were “two peas in a pod.” 

They spent 52 years together hunting and gardening at their home outside of Marquand, Missouri.

 When Gale retired, Lily worked with him in the sawmill. Their true love, however, was fishing. The biggest fish Lily ever caught was an award winner! On July 8, 1970, she caught a Largemouth Bass that weighed 6 pounds and 4 ounces. She was presented an award from the St. Louis Globe-Democrat and KTVI 2 in the Ozark Fishing Rodeo.

While God did not bless them with their own children, they were certainly loved by many over the years, including numerous nieces, nephews, grand and great-grand nieces and nephews and the children of many friends.

Mrs. Tripp was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Gale; brothers, Edwin and Carl Johnson; and sister, Mae (Johnson) Tripp.

She is survived by her youngest brother, Charles Johnson, and her many nieces and nephews, grand and great-grand nieces and nephews.

She was a member of the Big Creek Missionary Baptist Church.

Services were held March 10, 2011 at Follis and Sons Chapel with the Reverend Don Estes officiating. Burial was at Farquhar Graham Cemetery in Buckhorn.

Arrangements by Follis and Sons Funeral Home of Fredericktown. www.follisandsonsfh.com