Aylene Hipps

Canton – Aylene Yelton Hipps, age 87, passed to a well-earned rest on Tuesday, January 17, 2012, at Silver Bluff Nursing Home. Aylene was born in Ellenboro, NC on September 15, 1924 to Wray and Ada Smart Yelton. Aylene was the second youngest of six children, three brothers, Dewitt, Wisker, and Thomas and two sisters, Mary and Clara, all of whom preceded her in death. Aylene was a 1945 graduate of Rutherford Hospital School of Nursing and was a Registered Professional Nurse. After graduation, she accepted a position in the Obstetrics Department of Haywood County Hospital. While working in Waynesville, she met a young farmer, millworker, and veteran of World War II, Robert Reynolds Hipps. They were married on April 30, 1949 and spent the next 62 years sharing their love for each other. Aylene lived an active and fulfilling life filled with family, friends, church, community, work, travel, crafts, and bridge. She worked in the Medical Department at Dayco, served as Head of the Medical Department at Champion Papers, and was active in the Haywood County Home Demonstration Club, the Haywood County Democrat Party, Rockwood United Methodist Church, and a number of other community organizations. She and Robert were active members of the Haywood County Cattlemen's Association, the NC Cattlemen's Association, the American Angus Association, and the 17th Airborne, 464th Artillery Battalion Association, and the Rutherford Hospital School of Nursing Alumni Association. Aylene loved cooking, crafts, gardening, playing card games, spoiling her grandchildren, and travel, but her greatest love was found in gatherings of friends and family in her home or at the mountain cabin on the farm. Aylene, her healing touch, warm laughter, and the joy she brought to life and those around her will be much missed by family and friends. She is survived by her husband of 62 years, Robert Reynolds Hipps; a daughter, Jane H. Brown and her husband, William, of Greeneville, TN; two sons, James Wray Hipps and his wife, Kathleen, of Leawood, KS and Thomas Robert Hipps and his wife, Sandra, of Canton. They provided a loving home and experienced great joy in six grandchildren, Rachel and Patrick Brown, Robert and Emily Hipps, and Kaylin and Andrew Hipps. A gathering of family and friends to celebrate Aylene's life will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, January 22, 2012, at the Canton Chapel of Wells Funeral Home with the Reverend Steve W. Miller officiating. The family will receive friends from 1:30 until 3:00 p.m. prior to the service. In lieu of flowers, the family request that donations be made to the Haywood County Public Library, 678 South Haywood Street, Waynesville, NC 28786.

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