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Leunah “Doodle” Tipton, 96, of Elizabethton, Tenn., passed away Tuesday, April 16, 2024, at her residence. She was born in Avery County, N.C., to the late Robert E. Cardwell Sr. and Jacque Parlier Cardwell.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Andrew Jolly Tipton; son, Jolly Bradford Tipton; brother, Robert “Bob” E. Cardwell Jr., and sister, Mary Ruth Ownby.

Doodle was an Elizabethton High School graduate, Class of 1945. She attended Carson-Newman College where she was a cheerleader, met the love of her life, and graduated in December 1948. Doodle was a teacher with the Elizabethton City School System for more than 35 years, teaching at various schools before retiring from East Side Elementary School. She was a lifelong member of First Baptist Church of Elizabethton and faithfully attended for many years.

Doodle sang for nearly 50 years in The Hills are Alive Chorus which is a part of the Sweet Adelines International Organization. Doodle loved to do anything she could for others and loved to host a good party. She enjoyed reading, flowers and watching her birds at her birdfeeder. Most of all, she loved spending time with her family and friends.

Those left to cherish her memory are her daughter, Viki Campbell and husband Wade; five grandchildren, Stephani Shouse and husband David, Staci Peters and husband Jason, Kristi Zimmerman, Keri Howell and husband Colby, and Timothy Tipton; nine great-grandchildren, Tiffani Shouse, Dalton Shouse, Gavin Peters and wife Mary Beth, Cody Zimmerman, Eli Zimmerman, Nicholas Perry, Cole Howell, Aaron Tipton, and Landon Tipton; two great-great-grandchildren, Carver Peters and Milli Peters; and several nieces and nephews.

A funeral service to celebrate the life of Doodle will be conducted at 7 p.m. Thursday, April 18, in the Sunset Chapel of Hathaway-Percy Funeral Home with Rev. Todd Hallman officiating. Music will be under the direction of The Hills are Alive Chorus. The family will receive friends between the hours of 5 and 7 p.m. Thursday,  prior to the service.

The graveside service and interment will be held at 1 p.m. Friday, April 19, at Happy Valley Memorial Park, Johnson City. Pallbearers will be the grandsons-in-law and great-grandsons. Honorary pallbearers are Joe Tolliver and James Little. Those who wish to attend the graveside service are asked to meet at Hathaway-Percy Funeral Home at 12:30 p.m. to go in procession to the cemetery. Those who prefer memorials in lieu of flowers may make donations to the Disabled American Veterans, P.O. Box 14301, Cincinnati, OH 45250-0301 or to First Baptist Church, 212 E. F Street, Elizabethton, TN 37643. Online condolences may be shared with the family and viewed on our website at www.hathawaypercy.com

Hathaway-Percy Funeral and Cremation Services are honored to serve the Tipton family. Office: (423) 543-5544.