ROWLEY- Barbara (Sinclair) Phipps, 73, of Rowley, formerly of Beverly and Salem, wife of Merle D. Phipps, died Tuesday morning, November 9, 2004 at the Salem Hospital following a brief illness.
Born in Salem, she was the daughter of the late G. Grafton and Gladys (Currier) Sinclair. She was a resident of Beverly for many years before moving to Rowley in 1974.
A graduate of Beverly High School, she later attended North Shore Community College in Beverly, where she received her Associate Degree in Nursing as a member of the second class to graduate from the school.
Prior to her retirement, she was employed as a registered nurse at the former J. B. Thomas Hospital in Peabody. She previously worked at Salem Hospital and Beverly Hospital.
For over 20 years, she was a breeder of Himalayan and Persian cats. Many of her Persian cats went on to be national champions. Although her illness kept her from being active in breeding in her later years, she was still very active on the internet in chat rooms giving advice to those with an interest in show cats.
Mrs. Phipps was always creative with her hands. She enjoyed knitting, needle point, crocheting painting and other crafts.
She was active in Rowley’s 350th Anniversary as a township and created the town’s time capsule which was buried beneath the bandstand at the Rowley Common.
Besides her husband, with whom she shared 53 years of marriage, she is survived by two sons and daughters-in-law, Dana & Cindy Phipps of Lehighton, PA, Mark and Kim Phipps of Rochester, New York, one daughter, Kristen Bouchard-Dryver of Barrington, New Hampshire, eight grandchildren, four great grandchildren, one brother and sister-in-law, Robert & Cynthia Sinclair of Ipswich, one sister and brother-in-law, Carolyn & Richard Evitts of Lake Havasu City, Arizona and several nieces and nephews. She was the mother of the late Brian Phipps.
Her funeral service will be held Friday, November 12, 2004 at 10 am in the Full-Spychalski Funeral Home, 84 Washington Square East, by Salem Common, Salem. Relatives and friends respectfully invited. Visiting hours are Thursday, 5 to 8 pm. Burial is in Greenlawn Cemetery, Salem. For those who desire, donations may be made in her memory to the American Parkinson Disease Association, 720 Harrison Ave., Suite 707, Boston, MA 02118. For on-line guestbook, directions and other information, visit www.SalemFuneral.com.