Kathy Jo Tripp

Kathy Jo Tripp, 64, of Midland, died Friday afternoon, October 31, 2025, at the Toni & Trish House in Auburn. She was born June 27, 1961, in Midland, daughter of the late Earl and Joanne (Albee) Clark. Kathy spent summers growing up on Lake Charlevoix with her family. As a teenager she competed in barrel racing on her horse, Navajo. She attended Bullock Creek Schools, and on April 16, 1979, she married Michael J. Tripp in Midland. Kathy had been employed for over 20 years with the Bullock Creek School District and worked in the kitchen at many of the Bullock Creek schools. As a lunch lady extraordinaire, she was very well liked by the students. Kathy was an avid Detroit Lions fan, but nothing outweighed the love she had for her grandchildren, which were the light of her life.
Kathy is survived by her husband Michael Tripp and her lovable black lab, Jake; son Craig (Wendy) Tripp of Midland and daughter Nicole (Jon) Buchanan of Columbus, OH; grandchildren, Oliver and Daniel Tripp, and Lincoln and Sutton Jo Buchanan; sister Beth (Fred) LaFreniere, brother Rick Clark, all of Midland, and sisters-in-law Judy Mercier and Sheryal Dice, both of Sanford. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by brother Michael Clark, brothers-in-law Richard Tripp and Donald Tripp, and sister-in-law Janet Finney.
Funeral services for Kathy will take place at 2 p.m. Saturday, November 8, 2025, from the Ware-Smith Woolever Funeral Chapel, 1200 West Wheeler Street with Pastor John Pohanka officiating. Kathy's family will receive friends at the funeral home on Saturday from 1 p.m. until time of the service. Those planning an expression of sympathy are asked to consider the Toni & Trish House.