Cary Mosely "Gator" Lipscomb

Cary Mosely (Gator) Lipscomb of Stuttgart passed away on April 20, 2024, while under the care of the physicians at Baptist Hospital, Little Rock.

Mr. Lipscomb was born in Prattville, Alabama on January 24, 1936, the son of W.J. and Fannie Mae Hand Lipscomb. The family farm borders the Alabama River, and Gator often reminisced about his childhood experiences and adventures against the backdrop of his rural upbringing. Gator’s five siblings, James, Forrest, Al, Murray, and Edna all preceded him in death.

Mr. Lipscomb is survived by four offspring, Benjamin Cary Lipscomb, Samantha Lynn Moeller, Forrest Keith Lipscomb, and Kathrine Mae Lipscomb. Gator was further blessed with 11 grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

Ms. Glennda Fread remained Gator’s steadfast and supportive special friend.

Gator was possessed of a forceful temperament and physical vigor which served him well throughout life. Gator honorably served his country in the U.S. Marine Corps, being discharged with the rank of sergeant in 1964.

For a time, Gator attended Massey Draughan Business College.

Before retiring as manager of the Almyra Farmers’ Cooperative, Gator was employed by Kerr-McGee Chemical Co. as a fertilizer salesman in North Georgia, and the Florida Panhandle before settling in England, Arkansas. Based in part on his years in Florida, coworkers referred to Lipscomb as “Gator”, a nickname Cary Lipscomb fully embraced and endorsed. During this period, fertilizer shipped in two-hundred pound sacks which Gator learned to handle with ease.

At other times in his life, Gator worked as a welder and carpenter to support his young family. In a drive around town, Gator would point out multiple grain-elevators and other equipment he had a hand in building from scratch at a time before engineers were called in on simple projects.

While in England, Gator continued his study and leadership within the Masonic Lodge rising to the 32 ^nd Degree and earning the title of Past Master.

In 1976, the family moved to Stuttgart, Arkansas and joined the Stuttgart Presbyterian Church. As an Elder, Gator worked behind the scenes to support the church and personally repaired and helped maintain the church property. Over the years, Gator baked from scratch thousands of rolls and biscuits for the benefit of the membership.

Gator went out of his way to meet and help his neighbors. If a neighbor had a fallen tree or dangling limb, Gator showed up with his ancient Homelite chainsaw and paper bag of sharpened chainsaw chains. Gator provided gum, “sickle pops”, candy, and sodas for the neighborhood children, and enjoyed walking the neighborhood for exercise and to socialize.

As a carpenter, Gator built beautiful hope-chests, beds, porch-swings, domino tables, end tables, and stools; often using natural red cedar.

Gator hunted occasionally and fished whenever he could. Like every member of the family, Gator possessed extraordinary hand-eye coordination which meant you didn’t want to sit next to him at a dove hunt if you expected to do any shooting.

Gator enjoyed playing dominoes for fun or money. At his best, Gator would call out the “rocks” his opponent held, identify every “count rock”, critique every poor “lob” his partner or opponent made, and invoke the peculiarities of his “Vail Street Rules”.

For those who knew Gator best, it was difficult to watch this proud man diminished in body and mind by an illness that begins by stealing memories and ends with the victim no longer being able to breath. We encourage Gator’s friends to remember the man like his family will . . . a proud, determined, talented, loving father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, friend, neighbor, and coworker.

Please join us at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 18, 2024, for a Memorial Service to be held at Turpin Funeral Home, Stuttgart, Arkansas.