Mary Anne Sipes was born in Mora, Minnesota on September 8th, 1936. She was one of seven children born to Charley and Rachel Blake. Mary Anne graduated high school in 1955, soon after she married her first husband Robert Ball. Together they had two children, Mary Lou and Robert Charles. In her early life Mary Anne was a sales associate at the Gold Company in Lincoln, NE. On December 18th, 1959, Mary Anne married the love of her life, Junior Lester Sipes. Together they had five children: Ricky Lee, James Leroy, Tammie Sue, Carrie Lynn, and Penny Rene. From his first marriage, Lester had four children Cindy, Sandy, Janet and Mike. Leaving them with a blended family of eleven.
Throughout Mary Anne’s life she worked a few odd jobs but the one that had the most impact on her was when she was caring for others. She ran an in-home daycare for 33 years called Aunt Anne’s Daycare. After Mary Anne and Lester retired, they moved back to Oregon, Missouri. There Mary Anne took care of two elderly women in their home. After Lester’s death in 1995 Mary Anne continued to care for others by opening her home to individuals with special needs, which she did for 25 years. In her free time Mary Anne enjoyed going to garage sales, reading Danielle Steel books, playing cards with her girlfriends at Village Inn, watching Hallmark movies but most importantly, spending time with her family.
Mary Anne is proceeded in death by her parents Charley and Rachel Blake, siblings Dick Blake, Frank Blake, Lyle Blake, Dorothy Blake; husband Junior Lester Sipes, daughters Tammie Sue and Carrie Lynn. Survivors are her children Mary Lou, Robert, Ricky, Jimmy, and Penny; 32 grandchildren, 41 great-grandchildren and 1 great-great grandchild; siblings include Betty, Dave, and Mary.
Memorials may be directed to the family, in care of Penny West, 4527 Hill Dr. Lincoln, NE 68510.
Serving as pallbearers are James Sipes II, Josh Sipes, Aaron Turley, Andrew Sipes, Jared Sipes, Bobb Sipes, Jaxson Sipes, Mathias Turley, Austin Soper, Lance Schmohr and David Tridle.
