Karen Shirlene (Willson) Cooper, 72, daughter of Millard and Emma (Coulter) Willson, was born May 23, 1942 at Bucyrus, Mo. She passed away Oct. 21, 2014, at Houston House, Houston, Mo.
She graduated from Houston High School in 1960. Karen worked for Mitchells Insurance Agency before graduating from high school and continued working for them until she started with the Department of the Army at Ft. Leonard Wood in 1971. She retired from Ft. Wood in 1993.
She married Roy E. Cooper II on Nov. 9, 1974. Karen was a member of the Bucyrus Baptist Church.
Karen was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; a sister, Catherine Kay; a brother, Meredith Willson; and a sister-in-law, Thelma Reed.
Karen was a loving mother, grandma, sister and aunt, always putting her family first. She loved traveling and had traveled to most of the states, including Hawaii. She also enjoyed sewing and going to auctions.
She is survived by her children, Mitzi Boothe and husband, Lee, of Ballwin, Mo., and Kevin Cooper and wife, Shelly, of Rolla, Mo.; grandchildren, Amanda Boothe of Jesup, Ga., Drew Boothe of Ballwin, Mo., and Sydney and Cameron Cooper of Rolla, Mo.; one sister, Janett Mitchell and husband, Jim, of Licking, Mo.; two brothers, Lynn Willson and wife, Linda, of Pacific, Mo., and Don Willson of Houston, Mo.; two sisters-in-law, Glenna England of Lebanon, Mo., and Valere Boren of Houston, Mo.; one niece; and several nephews.
Karen will be dearly missed by all who knew and loved her.
Services were 2 p.m. Friday, Oct. 24, at Evans Funeral Home with the Rev. Gordon Rhodes officiating. Burial was in Boone Creek Cemetery, Licking, Mo. Pallbearers were Mike Mitchell, Mark Mitchell, Tony Willson, Todd Willson and Drew Boothe. Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society or Boone Creek Cemetery.
Online condolences may be sent to www.evansfh.com. Services were under the direction of Evans Funeral Home.
PAID