Shirley Tripp

Shirley Luella Cressy Tripp was born to Peter Justin Cressy and Rachel Mary Ellen Pease Cressy on December 27, 1932 in Chamberlin, South Dakota. They later moved to Hayward, Wisconsin where she and her brother, Merle Wayne Cressy were raised and walked to school through the snow up hill both ways. She graduated from highschool in 1950. She married Paul Everett Tripp June 21, 1952. They moved to Hillsboro, Oregon in 1953.

They are survived by four adult children: Kathy Tripp Werner and Guy Werner, Russ and Paula Tripp, Julie Tripp Krevanko and Tony Krevanko, and Duane Tripp and his fiance, Lynn Smith; seven grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren with two more on the way, and numerous grand-fur babies. She loved them all.

Shirley was a homemaker all of her life and then added to that realestate agent, broker, Amway distributer, seamstress, flower arranger and, most recently, artist.

She loved to sew and took sewing classes to increase her knowledge whenever she couldn't figure something out on her own. She sewed most of the kids clothes as they were growing up and was challenged mightily in 1981 when she sewed Julie's wedding dress, several bridesmaids dresses, and arranged alter flowers, six silk bouqets, a carry bouquet and all of the boutonieres.

She and Paul were always looking for ways to supplement their income to keep their family comfortable and sold Shaklee products, Amway products and finally got their realestate licenses. In about 1978 they became co-owners of Hillsboro Realty where Shirley worked Monday through Friday and sometimes Saturday and also got her brokers license. They later sold their half to their partner.

Paul and Shirley loved to travel and took several long car journeys. They travelled to Victoria, BC, Wisconsin a couple of times and to Yosemite park to name a few. One year, they bought a fifth-wheel trailer and a pick-up and took about six months to drive to the eastern seaboard, down to Georgia, across the southern states for Thanksgiving with Kathy in Arizona, then back home by Christmas.

Shirley had her artistic side and as her need for sewing dwindled, she began to take painting classes and became a somewhat accomplised artist in oil and acrylic painting. Even to the end, she would look at things critically and see things that the rest of her kids didn't.

Church had always been a large part of her and Paul's life. They began attending the Congregational Church when they moved to Hillsboro then later changed to the Old Scotch Church where they both sang in the choir and served on various boards including the Deacons who were later such an integral part in Shirley's life at home. We are very thankful for the Deacons at the Old Scotch Church.

Special thanks go to Marcia, Ashley and Stephanie Tripp who helped take care of Shirley over the last few years. It almost goes without saying that she wouldn't have lived this long without the constant and thorough care of her son, Duane. We salute you. Thank you for all of your hard work.

Shirley died due to complications from Alzheimers, COPD and Pneumonia.

In lieu of flowers you can make donations to any of the following: Tualatin Plains Presbyterian Church Deacons, Wasington County Palliative Care/ Hospice, Arthritis Foundation or the MS Foundation.