Billie Rymer Nipper Obituary
Feb 25th, 2016 | By The Scoop | Category: News, Obituaries
Billie Rymer Nipper, also known for her beautiful artwork and annual craft show, Nillie Bipper, a resident of Cleveland, passed away Wednesday, February 24, 2016 at her home surrounded by her loving family. She was a member of First Baptist Church in Cleveland.
Mrs. Nipper was a charter member of the Cleveland Creative Arts Guild and a chairperson to major art shows like the Spring Arts Festival at the Village Mall, for 20 years and Nillie Bipper, for 46 years. Her accoladesincluded, The Tennessee Walking Horse Hall of Fame, Honorary Member of the Georgia Walking Horse Association, Honorary Member of the Tennessee Walking Horse Auxiliary and The Tennessee Walking Horse Trainer Friendship Club. Billie served as Vice President of the Tennessee Walking Horse Booster Club for one year and she was inducted into the Bradley County Agricultural Hall of Fame. She also severed on the Board for The Tennessee Walking Horse National Museum.
Billie has had her art collection displayed in all fifty states and in several international countries. She was a featured artist at the 1982 World’s Fair in Knoxville and has had the privilege to do a portrait of her work for President Ronald Reagan, ZsaZsa Gabor, Shania Twain and may more. Her art work has been reproduced on weavings, albums, music boxes, pottery and prints. She has done murals for churches and a painting for E.L. Ross Elementary School. She was also commissioned by Governor and Mrs. Haslam to do a Christmas ornament representing Bradley County for the Governor’s Mansion. Most recently her artwork was featured on a small painting done for a dollhouse at St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital.
She was preceded in death by her husband, J.L. Nipper; parents, Ina Mae Arthur and John Ernest Rymer; and her brothers and sisters, Lt. Col. Carl Rymer, Ralph Rymer, Frances Kibler, Mamie Stephenson and Sue Bivens.
She is survived by her children; Joel Nipper and wife, Patrice, of Cleveland and Jeanna Nipper of Chattanooga; grandchildren, Janessa Nipper of Cleveland, Staff Sgt. Justin and Jennifer Officer Williams of Clarksville and Zachary Officer of Cleveland; great-grandchild, Skyler Nipper; special little boys, Noah Mathis and Jagger; her dog, Toby and caregiver, Connie Litton.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, February 27, 2016 in the chapel of Ralph Buckner Funeral Home. Interment will follow in Sunset Memorial Gardens.
The family will receive friends from 5:00 – 8:00 p.m. on Friday, February 26, 2016 at the funeral home.
