Eddie A. Sipes

Funeral: 10 a.m. Tuesday July 17, 2007 at First Baptist Church in Decatur with Rev. Ken May to officiate. Burial will be at Oaklawn Cemetery. The family will receive friends 6 to 7:30 p.m. Monday at Coker-Hawkins Funeral Home.

Eddie was born June 28, 1947, in Weatherford, Texas to Dr. D.C. and Wanda Waters Sipes. He was active in track, and an all district football player in 1965 at Bridgeport High School. He was an FFA officer, and had a Lonestar Farmer Degree. He was President in History, and voted most likely to succeed. In January of 1970 he got his Bachelors Degree in Business Administration. He took numerous short courses and training on Engineering and Managemnt with Oklahoma State University, Texas A & M University, National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, and the Texas Railroad Commission. He was the State Chairman of Texas Cooperative Member Service Organization. He went to work for Wise Electric Cooperative in 1970, shortly after graduating from North Texas State University, in the Marketing/Member Service Department. In 1975 he was promoted to Member Services Director, in 1992 he was promoted to Assistant General Manager, and December 1, 2006 promoted to General Manager.

Past positions include 4-H Leader, Wise County United Way Director in 1981 to 1983, Fund Drive Special Award in 1980, Secretary Wise County Sheriff's Posse, President of the Wise County Division American Heart Association, President Decatur Youth Fair Buyers Association, Chairman Wise County Youth Fair Executive Committee, He was elected 2 terms for General Superintendent of the Wise County Youth Fair for 7 years, Decatur ISD School Board, 2 terms on Decatur Chamber of Commerce Board, Adult Sunday School Teacher both at Pleasant Grove Baptist and First Baptist Decatur. Currently serving on Budget and Finance Committee of the First Baptist Church Decatur. He Served 2 terms as Board Director of Texas Member Services Association (on association of rural electirc marketing & communication personnell) one term as Chairman. Received TMSA Lifetime Achievement Award in 2005. Taught numerous seminars on Heat Loss/Gain and HVAC design for rural electric employees and area HVAC contractors. Taught government sponsored seminar to train retirees to become energy auditors. He was currently serving on Job Training & Safety Committee for most electric cooperatives and many of the municipal electric systems in Texas. Past editor of Wise Electric's Local Pages in Texas Coop Power Magazine and Still wrote monthly Manager's Column.

Survivors: Wife of 38 years, Sharon Sipes of Decatur; son, Joe Sipes of Boyd; daughter, Shelly Vinzant and husband, Travis of Decatur; grandchildren, Trinity and Wyatt Vinzant; mother, Wanda Sipes of Bridgeport; sister, Jackie Hutto and husband, Mike of Bridgeport; nephews, Bobby and Brodie Doherty; numerous cousins; and a host of many friends.