Linda Dezaree Hipps age 71 of Valdese, NC passed away on March 5, 2024 after a valiant fight with pancreatic cancer.

Dezaree was known by "Dezi" to coworkers and friends who struggled to pronounce her unique name and known by her very extensive family as "Koot".

Koot was the youngest of 12 children born to Mary Etta Newton and Horace Calloway Hipps. She is preceded in death by her parents and 7 of her siblings. She has 3 children to whom she dedicated her life to raising. She was a hard-working single mother who instilled the same hard-working values and good morals in her children, they certainly learned by her example. Dezaree leaves behind her heartbroken children: Michael Head (Jennifer), Amanda Head Sellers (Allen), and BJ Head. Along with her grieving children, she leaves behind 8 grandchildren who she loved with all her being: Tyler, Wyatt, and Holly Head; Connor (Kaela), Lillee (Aidan Carmichael), Isabel, Chase, and Cameron Sellers. Dezaree also had 3 great grandchildren with 1 more arriving within weeks. Dezaree will be lovingly remembered by many, especially her extensive family of cousins, nieces and nephews, and her 4 surviving siblings: Nancy, Sheila, June, and Judy.

Dezaree worked for many years in insurance offices in Shelby, NC and Livermore, California. However, most of her working years were in furniture manufacturing as an upholstery cutter and supervisor. Dezaree was happily retired and loved spending all of her time reading. She could always be found with a book in her hands and seeking someone to tell about the latest story she had read. As technology came along, she adored having a Kindle reader so she could have endless access to reading material and eliminated the stacks of books that would not fit onto her book shelves. There was not a genre she wasn't willing to read. She loved to lose herself in a good story. Dezaree also enjoyed music and found great pleasure in the stories and emotions that music conveys. Her musical tastes were equally as eclectic as her reading genres; she kept up with the latest pop tunes and enjoyed beautiful classical voices.

Dezaree will be remembered as strong-willed (also referred to as stubborn by her family), dedicated to those she loved, and a fighter until the last day. She faced many challenges throughout her life and always refused to give up or give in. Dezaree was a survivor!

There will be no services; the family will gather privately to celebrate Dezaree's life and share memories as we mourn our loss.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Wendover Hospice House: Wendover Hospice House, 951 Wendover Heights Dr., Shelby, NC 28150.

We would like to recognize the Beaver Dam Baptist Church congregation which provided tremendous support, love, and tenderness to Dezaree and her family during her time of transition.

Online condolences may be made at cecilmburtonfuneralhome.com

Cecil M. Burton Funeral Home & Crematory is compassionately serving the Martin family.