Jerry Nipper

Jerry Dale Nipper, 79, went to be with the Lord on January 25, 2015 at his home in the Bethlehem community east of Cabot, Arkansas. He was preceded in death by his wife, Frances Jeaneane Nipper; his parents, Rotha and Elmer Nipper; and his brother, Lawrence Nipper. He is survived by his children, Brenda and Rickey Phillips, Pamela Nipper, and Lisa and Kelly Brooks; grandchildren Christy and Mark Hollingshead and Rickey Phillips, Jr.; great-grandchildren Ella and Everett Hollingshead; brothers and sisters Willene and Charles Nipper, Martha Sue Plummer, Linda and Jerry Stevens, and Kathy and Larry Nipper; and a host of nieces and nephews.
Jerry was born in the Antioch community April 12, 1935. He graduated from Cabot High School in 1953 and attended Hendrix College. He married Jeaneane on November 4, 1955.
He was devoted to God and his family. After surviving a major heart attack at the age of 59, he entered the ministry as an ordained Methodist minister. He pastored Hebron and Providence United Methodist Church. Bethlehem, his church of retirement, was also his home church since childhood.
He was well known in the community as a man of love, gentleness and kindness. He continued a small back flow business after retiring from Arkansas Automatic Sprinklers and saw this as a ministry.
One of his greatest joys was working on "The Christmas Road to Bethlehem" which had its 27th year this past Christmas.
Memorials may be made to the Bethlehem Church Building Fund
1281 Bethlehem Rd., Austin, AR 72007.
The family will receive friends from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Tuesday at Smith - Westbrook Funeral Home, Beebe. Funeral service will be 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, January 28, 2015, at Bethlehem United Methodist Church, with burial in Salem Cemetery. Arrangements by Smith - Westbrook Funeral Home.