Irene Hipps Duckworth

Irene Hipps Duckworth, 91, of Foothills Drive, formerly of Walker Road, Morganton, NC, died Friday, January 11, 2008 at Grace Heights Health Care Center. Born in Burke County, NC on December 7, 1916, she was the daughter of the late Joseph Marion Hipps and Dovie Prewitt Hipps. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Clinton Ray Duckworth; a granddaughter, Lori Morrison Rayfield; a son-in-law, Ben Morrison; brother, Ezra Hipps, Vernon Hipps, and Alfred Hipps; and sisters, Jessie McNeely, Iris Shouse, Artie Jaynes, Mary Franklin, Cora Reid, and Nettie Weller. Irene was a former employee of Shadowline and retired from Western Carolina Center. She was a member of Mt. Home Baptist Church where she sang in the choir, was a Sunday School teacher, and served in many other capacities.She is survived by her son, Ray Duckworth and wife, Shirley, of Morganton; a daughter, Frances Morrison of Morganton; a sister, Carleen Williams of Chase City, VA; a half-brother, Jim Hipps of IN; grandchildren, Jeffrey Duckworth, Tim Duckworth, Gayle Rostan, Tim Trull, Deana Trull, and Wanda Smart; great-grandchildren, Jeffrey Duckworth, Shanna Hudson, Amanda Minish, Lindsay Cabe, Breanna Trull, Ben Rostan, Sara Rostan, Andrew Rostan, Hannah Rostan, and Carl Smart; great-great-grandchildren, Tyler Belton and Ray Duckworth; and a number of nieces and nephews.The funeral will be held at 2:00 p.m., Monday, January 14, 2008 at Mt. Home Baptist Church with Reverends Jerry Gamble and David Orders officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. The family will receive friends at the church one hour prior to the service. Memorial contributions may be made to Mt. Home Baptist Church Graceful Giving Fund, 2272 Mt. Home Church Road, Morganton, NC 28655 or to Burke Hospice and Palliative Care, Inc., 1721 Enon Road, Valdese, NC 28690. Sossoman Funeral Home is assisting the family with the arrangements.