Obituaries

Lela Johnston Tripp

Photo of Lela Johnston Tripp
Lela Johnston Tripp of Springdale, Ark., passed away Jan. 10, 2013, at Circle of Life Hospice. She was born March 4, 1953, in El Dorado, Ark., to Clyde and Billie Stringfellow Johnston. She was preceded in death by her parents. She is survived by sisters, Donna McLaughlin and Patricia McGaugh and husband Calvin of Springdale, Ark.; nephews, Austin Doolin of St John, Va., Blake McLaughlin of Omaha, Neb., and Todd Mclaughlin of Lowell, Ark.; nieces, Angela Burke and Casey Mclaughlin of Springdale, Ark.; three grandnieces and one grandnephew, several aunts, uncles and cousins. Lela was a 1975 graduate of the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Ark. She spent her career at Tyson Foods, where she held positions in Foodservice Sales and tnformation Systems. International Foodservice Manufacturers Association presented her the "Sparkplug Award" for having provided the ignition which sparked the successful completion of projects to further the interest of IFMA and the IFMA President's Award for E-business efforts and appreciation of her significant contributions to the Foodservice Industry. The United States Department of Agriculture presented her a "Certificate of Appreciation" for contributions to mpXML that advanced the use of electronic commerce for the US Meat and Poultry Supply Team. She was a loving daughter and sister, a dear friend, colleague, mentor and leader in the food service industry and will be missed by many. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m., Monday, Jan. 14, 2013, at Sisco Funeral Chapel in Springdale, Ark. The family will hold a private burial at Campground Cemetery in Hampton, Ark. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the American Cancer Society, 1200 West Walnut St., Rogers, AR 72756 and the LSU Veterinary School of Medlcine, Skip Bertman Drive, Baton Rouge, LA 70803. Online condolences may be sent to www.siscofuneral.com.

Published January 13, 2013

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