RICHARD NIPPER

RICHARD "RICK" DALE NIPPER 6/23/1957 - 5/30/2024 Rick Nipper passed away May 30, 2024, after a brief illness at the age of 66 with his children and grandchildren by his side. Rick was born in Portland, Oregon, on June 23, 1957, to the late John Francis Nipper and Beulah Kathleen (Hayes) Nipper. The family lived in Okinawa, Japan, when Rick was a young child before relocating to Denison, Texas, when Rick was in first grade. Rick graduated Denison High School in 1976. Shortly before marrying Kayla Joan Thomas in June 1977, he served honorably in the United States Army for a period of time. Rick and his family lived in Denison, Texas, and several years in Durant, Oklahoma, during which time they had a total of six children and seven grandchildren. Starting at a young age, Rick learned the trade of auto mechanics while working along side his father, eventually taking over his father's business as he had prepared him for, when his father retired. He later sold the business but continued his career at Caterpillar as a master mechanic. Rick enjoyed racing and restoring cars, fishing, and raising turkeys, chickens, dogs, cats, goats, as well as the occasional horse or pig. His greatest enjoyment was spending time with his children and grandchildren. They were the people he valued most of all and the time he spent with them were some of his most cherished moments of his life. Rick was preceded in death by his father John Francis Nipper, mother Beulah Kathleen( Hayes) Nipper, brothers Sean Eric Nipper, and John"Chip" Francis Nipper II, and sisters Starla (Wilkinson) Buckheister, and Sheila (Wilkinson) Godbey. Rick is survived by his six children - Delaina Sztrik Nipper-Smith and husband Jim, Danielle Nipper, Danna Nixon and husband Ron, Richard Wayne Nipper, Hailey Nipper and fiancée Victor Uga, McKinley Nipper, and their mother Kayla Sofijczuk; grandchildren Hunter Nipper, Camryn Nixon, Spencer Nixon, Bailey Nixon, Maddi Nixon, Kayleigh Ervin, and Alyssa Ervin; three sisters Deborah (Nipper) Rolan and husband RC Tuffy, Sandra Nipper-Walker, and Elane Nipper Crenshaw; as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins, countless friends, colleagues, and the community he loved and called home. Rick will be dearly missed by those who called him Daddy, grandpaw and friend. A celebration of life service will be held at Fisher Funeral Home, Denison, Texas, on Saturday, June 8, at 10 a.m. All that knew Rick are welcome to attend.