Neely Warren Tipton (88) came into the world on Oct. 19, 1931, to Ralph and Leota Tipton in Crafton. He passed peacefully, holding the hand of his loving wife, Lucille, on Sept. 3, in Cundiff.

Neely had a big personality and a wonderfully full life. As a child, he lived with his extended family, including parents, sisters, grandparents, and uncles, on the Tipton (Old Perryman) Ranch on Big Creek in Jack County. When Neely was young, his parents bought the old Lucas Place and other land, and they moved the Tipton Ranch to where it is today in Cundiff. Neely began working on the ranch as a man (he said) when he was ten years old. Neely rode his horse to school in Cundiff as a boy. He graduated from Jacksboro High in 1948, after Cundiff schools consolidated.

After high school, he worked in the oil field as a derrickman. He then served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War where he was deployed to Japan. He attained the rank of sergeant. For college, he attended North Texas, Ranger Junior College, and Midwestern University where he received a BBA in Accounting.

He married his devoted wife, Lucille, on June 1, 1952, in Jermyn, and they started their family. After earning his degree, he became an auditor for the General Accounting Office and the U.S. Department of Energy in Dallas. During his time at the GAO, he traveled extensively in the U.S and to Chile. Throughout his life, Neely worked weekends and holidays at the Tipton Ranch, to which he and his family moved and took over management in 1983.

Once living back in Cundiff, Neely became involved extensively in the Cundiff and Jacksboro communities. Neely held several positions in the Farm Bureau for 36 years. Additionally, he served as treasurer and an usher for the First Methodist Church. Neely was very proud of the Cundiff Cemetery. He served in several positions, including president, vice-president, and secretary-treasurer for the Cundiff Cemetery Association. Neely was also on the Jack County Appraisal Board, and he worked with the Jack County Republican party as a delegate and election judge.

Neely’s greatest joy besides time with family and friends was ranching. He continued his family’s ranching heritage with the –O– brand, which is the oldest brand in Jack County. He loved being out with the Hereford cattle and on the ranch. His stories of Jack County and his life will be missed at the family gatherings.

Neely was blessed with a large and raucous family. The Tipton family included his sisters, Peggy and Shirley, many uncles, aunts, cousins, nieces and nephews, along with his parents and grandparents. He is survived by his wife of 68 years, Lucille Damron Tipton, of Cundiff, and his three children, Angelica Viramontes of Pittsburg, CA, Patricia (Tish) and Bryan Smith of Katy, and Robert and Lezlie Tipton of Dallas,. He was Papa to ten grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.