Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Vera Pipes

Vera Mae Ratcliff Pipes, hairdresser, artist, gardener, beloved wife and mother, went home to be with the Lord Wednesday, April 23.

She was born March 2, 1927, in Nevada County, the third daughter of Jack and Lola Ratcliff. She attended school at Cale close to the family farm. Later she moved to Fort Worth where she attended Isbell's University of Beauty School, where she received her cosmetology diploma in 1947.

After moving to Texarkana in the mid 1950's, she worked at Duke's Beauty Salon, and later for Art Style. In 1965, she and her husband opened the Chicle-Doll Beauty Salon, which they operated successfully for more than 25 years. After selling her shop, Vera then went to work in the salon at Reunion Plaza until her retirement in 1995.

Upon retirement, she stayed active taking art lessons, working with her flowers, going to Wal-Mart with Owen, and enjoying her children and grandchildren.

She was a long time member of Downtown First Baptist Church, where she sang in the Senior Adult Choir, and loved to attend services whenever she was physically able.

A son, Tony Shoemaker, and a sister, Ruth Otwell preceded her in death.

She is survived by her husband, Owen "O.W." Pipes of Texarkana; two sons and a daughter-in-law, Owen, Jr. and Jan Pipes of Texarkana and Tommy Shoemaker of Soledad, Calif.; a daughter and son-in-law, Druella and Joe Reeder of Texarkana, Texas; six sisters, Rachel Turner of Texarkana, Texas, Geneva Bish of Albuquerque, N.M., Jessie Findley and Shirley Bowman both of Baton Rouge, La., Sarah Beard of Linden, Texas, and Betty Sue Pack of Mission Viejo, Calif.; three grandchildren, Wade Pipes and Maddie Pipes, both of Texarkana, Texas, and Justin Shoemaker of Alleene; and a number of nieces and nephews.

Funeral services were 2 p.m. Saturday, April 26, 2003, in the Chapelwood Funeral Home Chapel Headrick officiating. Burial was in Holy Cross Cemetery.

Those wishing to memorialize Mrs. Pipes may make contributions to the American Lung Association of Texas, 7616 LBJ Freeway, Suite 100, Dallas, TX, 75251-1182 or to the church of their choice.

The family were at the Pipes residence on Hwy 59 South.