Cathryn "Kitty" Cox Lipscomb passed away Sunday at her father's namesake hospital. She was the daughter of Mildred and Lester E Cox, born June 7, 1929. Siblings included Virginia Bussey and Lester L Cox, who preceded her in death along with her son-in-law Gary Bayer. She attended Greenwood Laboratory School and graduated as co-salutatorian in 1946. She shared that honor with her lifelong friend, the late Marjorie Wilson.

Kitty, as she was lovingly called by friends and family, cherished Springfield and was passionate about improving her community. She received dozens of honoraries and accolades over her 88 years. Kitty was named Springfield's Outstanding Philanthropist of the Year in 2010 with her husband Jack E Lipscomb along with being President and Life Member of the Cox Hospital Auxiliary and Past-President and charter member of the Junior League. She also had a passion for preserving history. Kitty was President of the Museum of the Ozarks and sat on the Historical Site boards for both Springfield and Green County. She was credited along with other local historians for instigating the Bicentennial and History Museum for Springfield. Kitty served on the Boards of the Wilson Creek Foundation and the Community Foundation, as Representative for the Governor's Council on Comprehensive Health and as a member of the Missouri Council for Humanities. Many community services reaped the benefits of her generous donations and endowments. She and Jack were major donors of the Lipscomb Family Wing of the Emergency Room at CoxHealth. She was also a member of First and Calvary Presbyterian Church and 20th Century SMAA Art Group. She served as Secretary for all of the family companies.

For the past 20 years, Kitty and Jack traded cold midwest winters for sunny skies and golf in Palm Desert, California where they enjoyed a large community of friends. There she was named Artist of the Year of Artists of Ironwood for her many paintings. She is survived by her husband Jack, with whom she celebrated 68 years of marriage in June, her sister-in-law Marjorie Enloe and her children Cindy Bayer and Larry Lipscomb (Tracy). Her grandchildren include Lauren Daniel Tew (Jason), Stephanie Lipscomb Madsen (Michael), Lanna Daniel Britt (Tim), Stuart Lipscomb (Lauren), and Andrew Lipscomb. She has 8 great-grandchildren and is survived by many nieces and nephews from the Cox, Lipscomb and Bussey families.

Visitation will be 4-6pm Thursday, July 6 at Gorman-Scharpf. A memorial service and reception will be held 11am Friday, July 7 at First & Calvary Presbyterian Church. Interment to follow at Hazelwood Cemetery.

Kitty made friends wherever she went. Anyone that knew her, loved her. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Cox College of Nursing, the History Museum of the Ozarks or the Marge Wilson Choir Fund at First and Calvary.