The Memphis Democrat
Memphis, Missouri
Thursday
January 27, 1966
Page 1
Column 4Frances Tippett Joins Education Honor Society
Mrs. Frances (Thurber) Tippett, a former Scotland County teacher, was recently initiated into the Delta Kappa Gamma, an international honor society for women educators. Membership is based upon high scholastic ability and outstanding service as a teacher or administrator. Only about 10% of all women educators ever receive this honor.
Mrs. Tippett is a primary teacher in Palm Springs, Calif. (Mrs. Harpo Marx is one of the board members in the school where Frances teaches.) Mrs. Tippett is a graduate of the Memphis High School and the Teachers College at Kirksville, having graduated from both schools with honor. While teaching in the Compton, California schools she was named "Teacher of the Year" and has received many other honors. At present she is serving on the building committee for the Palm Springs Schools and is conducting a workshop in Modern Math for other teachers. She is a sister of Avon Thurber of Elmhurst, Ill., and Mrs. Gale Hunter, who is now serving as an elementary principal in Schuyler R-1 Schools.
The Thurber family grew up in Memphis and are long time residents of Scotland County. Mrs. Tippett is the wife of Virgil Tippett formerly of Memphis who is a brother of Arlie Tippett.
The Memphis Democrat
Memphis, Missouri
Thursday
February 3, 1983
Page 5
Column 7Frances (Tippett) Duncan
Frances Margaret Duncan, 71, a daughter of Adolphus E. and Rose J. Thurber, was born on a farm in Scotland County, Missouri, on June 25, 1911, and passed away in a Hemet, California hospital on January 27, 1983 following a severe stroke that she suffered on January 25, at her home in Hemet, California.
Frances spent her early life on the farm and moved with her family to Memphis, Missouri, in 1923. She united with the Memphis Methodist Church that same fall.
She attended rural schools and the East Ward School in Memphis. In 1929 she graduated from the Memphis High School and later was an honor graduate of the Kirksville State Teachers College. She taught in Scotland County Rural Schools and the East Elementary School in Memphis, Missouri.
On October 15, 1942, she was married to Virgil Tippett, brother of Arlie Tippett of Memphis, Missouri. They moved to Los Angeles, California, where they spent most of their married life with the exception of a few years spent on a farm northwest of Memphis, Missouri.
After teaching several years in the Los Angeles Schools she went to teach in the Palm Springs Schools.
Virgil died on April 19, 1975, and after Frances retired she moved to Hemet, California, where she spent here remaining years.
On June 16, 1981, she was united in marriage to Ray Duncan, a retired College Professor from Oregon, who survives.
Other survivors in her family include a sister, Josephine Hunter and her husband, Gale, of Memphis, Missouri; one brother, Avon Thurber and his wife, Louise of Elmhurst, Illinois; one niece, Linda Mitter, her husband, Wm. Mitter and two daughters, Karen and Lauren of Oak Park, Illinois; three nephews, Alan Thurber, his wife, Melissia, and little daughter, Jessica of Northglenn, Colorado, Roderick Snyder, his wife, Ila Mae and family of the Hamilton, Illinois and Keokuk, Iowa area; Roger Snyder, wife, Billie Jean and their family of Mission, Texas.
She was preceded in death by her parents, two sisters, Ada Ellen, who died at the age of 3, and Bessie Snyder and her husband, Maurice.
Frances had a pleasant and happy disposition, which won her many friends, who along with her relatives will sadly miss her.
The body was cremated and memorial services were held in Hemet, California, February 2, 1983.
