Mary Ellen Pipkin Salisbury, 81, daughter of Thomas S. and Bessie Walker Pipkin, was born May 9, 1926, at Leavenworth, Wash. She died Dec. 24, 2007, at Springfield. She had spent the last two years at Ozark Mountain Healthcare at Crane.
She moved with her family to Texas County at an early age. Since her father was employed by the WPA program, the family lived around the county. She attended high school at Houston, graduating in 1944.
She married Fred L. Salisbury in 1946. They had two children.
Mrs. Salisbury began her working career as an usher at the Melba Theatre and was one of Marion Coyle’s first operators for the Houston telephone exchange. She spent most of her working years at Hiett Abstract Co. in Houston and as clerk of the associate circuit court under Judges Mike Becker and John Beeler.
Over the years, she also cared for her Aunt Maude Simmons, her mother and then her husband.
She loved cooking from scratch and was known for her homemade ice cream, cookies and custard.
She was a member of the First Christian Church at Houston.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 55 years in 2001.
Surviving are her children, Tom Salisbury and Sue Ellen Ball; three grandchildren and a life-long friend, Treva West.
Visitation is 1 to 2 o’clock Saturday at the Evans Funeral Home Chapel in Houston with a private family service later.
The body was cremated.
Memorials may be made to Lone Star Plaza in care of the funeral home.
