Murrel Lafayette Flippin was the firstborn son of George Lee Flippin and Betty Shackelford. He had two younger brothers. The family resided in Arkansas but by 1920 had moved to Tacoma, Washington. Sometime in the mid 1920's they moved to the Maricopa area of California where Flip attended high school and met his future wife Opal. Flip was a wrestling champion in high school. However Opal married Lawrence Ezra Mason and Flip married Marjorie Ford.
At the age of 49, Flip finally married his high school sweetheart Opal on January 6, 1956 and they bought a darling little house in Fresno at 1398 North Adoline Avenue. They had a beautiful marriage and adored each other. Flip was a wonderful grandfather to Opal's three grandchildren as well as his own from his previous marriage.
Flip worked for many years as manager of Sherry's Fine Liquors on Olive Avenue in Fresno. The grandchildren loved to visit him there and he always had treats for them. Opal told the story of one time when a man tried to rob Flip at the store. Flip became so angry, he ran around the counter, grabbed the man by the shirt collar and ran him out the door and down the street, shouting at him and kicking him with each stride. However, Flip normally was the kindest, most courteous of gentlemen.
He loved to drive the grandchildren up to Yosemite to ride on the Sugar Pine Express and see the fish hatchery. On the way up, he used to call out the names of the little towns as if he were a train conductor: "Coarsegold, Coarsegold!"
Flip and Opal had a motorhome and belonged to the FreMad Retreads, a camping club, and went on many camping excursions with them. It was on their last excursion that Flip thought he had heartburn and went in the motorhome to lay down. But it turned out he was having a massive heart attack. Opal went to check on him and found he had passed away. This was on April 14, 1982. Flip was survived by his wife Opal, children and grandchildren from his first marriage and Opal's children and grandchildren.
At the age of 49, Flip finally married his high school sweetheart Opal on January 6, 1956 and they bought a darling little house in Fresno at 1398 North Adoline Avenue. They had a beautiful marriage and adored each other. Flip was a wonderful grandfather to Opal's three grandchildren as well as his own from his previous marriage.
Flip worked for many years as manager of Sherry's Fine Liquors on Olive Avenue in Fresno. The grandchildren loved to visit him there and he always had treats for them. Opal told the story of one time when a man tried to rob Flip at the store. Flip became so angry, he ran around the counter, grabbed the man by the shirt collar and ran him out the door and down the street, shouting at him and kicking him with each stride. However, Flip normally was the kindest, most courteous of gentlemen.
He loved to drive the grandchildren up to Yosemite to ride on the Sugar Pine Express and see the fish hatchery. On the way up, he used to call out the names of the little towns as if he were a train conductor: "Coarsegold, Coarsegold!"
Flip and Opal had a motorhome and belonged to the FreMad Retreads, a camping club, and went on many camping excursions with them. It was on their last excursion that Flip thought he had heartburn and went in the motorhome to lay down. But it turned out he was having a massive heart attack. Opal went to check on him and found he had passed away. This was on April 14, 1982. Flip was survived by his wife Opal, children and grandchildren from his first marriage and Opal's children and grandchildren.
Murrel Lafayette Flippin was the firstborn son of George Lee Flippin and Betty Shackelford. He had two younger brothers. The family resided in Arkansas but by 1920 had moved to Tacoma, Washington. Sometime in the mid 1920's they moved to the Maricopa area of California where Flip attended high school and met his future wife Opal. Flip was a wrestling champion in high school. However Opal married Lawrence Ezra Mason and Flip married Marjorie Ford.
At the age of 49, Flip finally married his high school sweetheart Opal on January 6, 1956 and they bought a darling little house in Fresno at 1398 North Adoline Avenue. They had a beautiful marriage and adored each other. Flip was a wonderful grandfather to Opal's three grandchildren as well as his own from his previous marriage.
Flip worked for many years as manager of Sherry's Fine Liquors on Olive Avenue in Fresno. The grandchildren loved to visit him there and he always had treats for them. Opal told the story of one time when a man tried to rob Flip at the store. Flip became so angry, he ran around the counter, grabbed the man by the shirt collar and ran him out the door and down the street, shouting at him and kicking him with each stride. However, Flip normally was the kindest, most courteous of gentlemen.
He loved to drive the grandchildren up to Yosemite to ride on the Sugar Pine Express and see the fish hatchery. On the way up, he used to call out the names of the little towns as if he were a train conductor: "Coarsegold, Coarsegold!"
Flip and Opal had a motorhome and belonged to the FreMad Retreads, a camping club, and went on many camping excursions with them. It was on their last excursion that Flip thought he had heartburn and went in the motorhome to lay down. But it turned out he was having a massive heart attack. Opal went to check on him and found he had passed away. This was on April 14, 1982. Flip was survived by his wife Opal, children and grandchildren from his first marriage and Opal's children and grandchildren.
At the age of 49, Flip finally married his high school sweetheart Opal on January 6, 1956 and they bought a darling little house in Fresno at 1398 North Adoline Avenue. They had a beautiful marriage and adored each other. Flip was a wonderful grandfather to Opal's three grandchildren as well as his own from his previous marriage.
Flip worked for many years as manager of Sherry's Fine Liquors on Olive Avenue in Fresno. The grandchildren loved to visit him there and he always had treats for them. Opal told the story of one time when a man tried to rob Flip at the store. Flip became so angry, he ran around the counter, grabbed the man by the shirt collar and ran him out the door and down the street, shouting at him and kicking him with each stride. However, Flip normally was the kindest, most courteous of gentlemen.
He loved to drive the grandchildren up to Yosemite to ride on the Sugar Pine Express and see the fish hatchery. On the way up, he used to call out the names of the little towns as if he were a train conductor: "Coarsegold, Coarsegold!"
Flip and Opal had a motorhome and belonged to the FreMad Retreads, a camping club, and went on many camping excursions with them. It was on their last excursion that Flip thought he had heartburn and went in the motorhome to lay down. But it turned out he was having a massive heart attack. Opal went to check on him and found he had passed away. This was on April 14, 1982. Flip was survived by his wife Opal, children and grandchildren from his first marriage and Opal's children and grandchildren.
