Earlene Taylor Pippin’s life endured many transitions. Her final transition occurred on Valentine’s Day. It was then in the late afternoon, that she reached out and took the hand of her handsome redhead who had been waiting for his sweetheart to arrive. As two daughters said goodbye to their mom, a husband, son, father, mother, sister and many others in heaven said, “Here She Comes!”
On December 27, 1926 in the small town of Daisetta Texas, Earlene entered this world. To quote her older sister Avis, “Earlene was born with a smile on her face.” Earlene spent her childhood in Rosenberg, growing up alongside her parents Earl Jesse and Decie Emmaline and older sister Avis. It was during the Rosenberg years when Earlene fell in love with music. To quote mom, “It all began with me and my sister on a bench. A piano bench.”
In January 1939, two months after her daddy died, Earlene and her mother moved to Waco. Waco would be her home for the next 73 years.
If one were to ask this beautiful woman, “What is the most important thing in your life?”, Earlene would answer, “My family.” Our mom was the best encourager, one who always had our backs. She taught us how to survive life’s challenges with a smile. She was, without a doubt, the strongest woman we’ve ever known. She was our hero.
The second most important thing in Earlene’s life was music. Singing in the church choir and Sweet Adelines brought her so much joy. Anyone who had the pleasure of hearing her beautiful alto voice would agree. They had been touched by an angel.
In February 2012, Mom moved to Austin and her new home, Park Bend Health Center. For the next six years, mom’s youngest daughter, Mary would be her best advocate and confidant. Earlene loved her family at Park Bend, and was dubbed “Earlene the Queen”.
Earlene was preceded in death by her husband, John Daniel Pippin, son John Thomas Pippin, her parents and sister. She is survived by her two daughters, her girls, Mary Pippin Luther of Austin and Peggy Pippin Thomsen & husband Glenn (her fifth child) of Lexington Kentucky, son Danny Pippin of Waco, grandsons Eric John Thomsen, Kyle Bishop Thomsen & wife Rachel Grove, Charles Daniel Pippin, Meredith Ann Pippin, and two great-grandchildren, Gage Daniel Pippin and Ardis Hope Grove-Thomsen.
Visitation will be Monday, February 19, 11:00 a.m., Oakcrest Funeral Home. Funeral service will follow at 1:00 p.m. Burial will be at Waco Memorial Park.
Mary and Peggy would like to thank the many angels at Park Bend Health Center and Kindred Hospice for their phenomenal loving care.
Memorials may be made to Kindred Hospice of Austin or Woodway First United Methodist Church Music Fund.
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