Alta Faye (Jarman) Pipes passed away November 14, 2023, at the age of 99 years, eight months, six days.
Faye was born four miles east of Unionville on the family farm to William Earnest Jarman and Lillie Maud (Stockton) Jarman. Faye was the youngest of nine children. At the age of eight her father passed away. At that time, she and her sister Maude were invited to live with her mother’s cousin Fay and Henry Gardner and her mother Isa McCutchen.
In 1940, Faye married Jack Bernie Fowler. On March 11, 1942, Jack Lanny Fower was born. That marriage ended in divorce.
Faye moved to Kirksville to live with her sister Uarda and work at the shoe factory. She later worked in a café where she met and later married Curtis A. Pipes on August 24, 1948. Curtis later adopted Lanny. They moved the family to Denver and then Cheyenne, Wyoming, where Faye graduated beauty school. After a few years they moved to La Plata, MO, where they bought and remodeled a 14-room mansion where Faye opened her own beauty shop. Curtis was an auctioneer. As the pipeline workers came to town, they rented them rooms and when the job was complete, Curtis auctioned off everything and that started a lifestyle they both loved following the pipeline. Faye kept a daily diary and recorded over 85 addresses.
While on the job in Olathe, KS, March 2, 1956, son David Curtis Pipes was born. Both sons followed the pipeline way of life.
In 1974, Curtis and sons tore down the Unionville Train Depot and built a unique home they were very proud of.
In 1976, they remodeled a gas station and build Faye the Hitching Post Flower Shop she loved so much. She later sold the shop to go back on the road with Curtis, both sons and daughter-in-law Debra and several grandchildren who have worked on the pipeline.
In 1994, Curtis passed away while on a job in Atmore, AL. Faye moved back home to her home in Unionville.
In 2017, Faye’s son David moved in to help so she could stay in her home.
Fay held perfect attendance for pipeline reunions after 25 years some before and after Curtis passed.
Faye is survived by son David and wife Debra Trimble Pipes, grandchildren Kevin and wife Lori Pipes, Stephen and wife Tonya Pipes, Kamron and husband Justin Mendenhall, Bobbi Jo (Hudson) and husband Jeff Strader, Christopher Hudson and wife Rebecca; twelve great grandchildren and ten great great grandchildren.
Faye was preceded in death by her parents, husband Curtis, son Lanny, siblings Glendola (Glen) Webber, Erma Wynema (Jim) Hendrix, John Forrest Jarman, Milo Mike (Neva) Jarman, Uarda Nedene (Roscoe) Cook, Earnest Vernon Jarman, Mary Eileen Jarman, Leota Maude (Leon) Dover, many, many in-laws, nieces and nephews.
Faye lived a full and healthy life until two weeks before her death. Faye loved to talk on the phone and lit up a room when she walked in late of course so she could holler, “I’m here!”
