Mary Marie Cooper

It’s been said that we all have a story to tell. Some stories may be longer, shorter, or more interesting than others, but to the people who are the characters that have been so richly woven into a blessed life, all stories become priceless to those we love. My name is Mary Marie Cooper and my story began on March 31, 1925. I was the 6th child born to Frank and Nora Scott in Orgas, West Virginia.

I grew up in a large family in Cabin Creek on our beloved Scott Mountain. Dad was such a hard-worker, running a saw mill and was known by everyone to give the shirt off his back to help anyone that needed help. Mom was tough as nails and worked her fingers to the bone cooking, sewing and helping Dad manage the farm and homestead. I had 9 brothers and sisters, but unfortunately lost 2 when they were just babies. My fondest memories were of my little sister Margaret, just a year younger than I. She would toddle after me and I remember peeking around the corners in our house to see her smiling face come looking for me. I was heartbroken after just having Margaret with us for such a short time when she got sick, they said it was the flu. Her little body at just 2 years old just couldn’t fight it and off she went to be with the Lord. Oh, how I missed her. I think Mom buried herself in her work to cope with the losses of her children and her work ethic certainly rubbed off on me.

I got to go to school to the 3rd grade, I wanted to keep going to school but I was needed at home to help take care of my older sisters’ kids and the home so that Mom could help Dad do more on the farm. I learned to cook, do laundry, change beds, all while taking care of little ones. Over the years, when I looked back on things, I think I may have missed out on my childhood and an education, but things were just done differently back then. Despite those feelings, I always felt deeply loved by Mom and Dad and looked up to them and was proud of all they accomplished during some very difficult times.

Needless to say, I grew up fast. In 1942 on January 27th, I married one of the Cooper Boys, Ezra. He was older than me by 9 years and managed to win my heart. He was drafted into the Army and went off to fight in the Pacific during World War II. I was pregnant with our oldest daughter when he left and soon gave birth to Delores. She was my pride and joy, we really grew up together since I was so young when I had her. Four years later, Ezra came home from the War and met Delores (Glen Faber) for the first time, and 9 months later our second daughter, Ramona was born, and pretty much after that every year we had a new member of our family! People often commented on the “stairsteps”, after Ramona was Kathy (Elbert Mallett), then Evelyn (Rick Bell), then Greg (Jane), and last but not least, Jim.

Life was busy and often hard, but I loved my family with everything in me. Ezra worked in the coal mines, and also as a cabinet maker, I worked after Jim was born at Thomas Memorial Hospital in the dietary department. In November of 1964 we had an opportunity to go North to Michigan and work for General Motors. We took that opportunity and eventually settled in Swartz Creek Michigan. Working in the factory was also hard, but the wages and benefits were a God send. We were able to do things we never could in the past. We built a new home and life ticked on. Our children married and began to have kids of their own, I now proudly have 14 grandchildren and a whopping 40 great-grandchildren!

We’ve had our share of tragedies as many families do. Over the years I have lost my parents, sisters and brothers, good friends, to old age, cancer and accidents, the hardest was probably the loss of Ezra, Ramona and my dear sister, Maxine. Ezra died in 1992 in a house fire in which I lost not only my husband but our home of 30+ years and many memories and photographs that were in the house. As I’d always been taught, life goes on and you pick up the pieces and carry on. I rebuilt our home in the exact location because I wasn’t willing to give up the best neighbors in the world, the community that I came to love and my family that still lived close by. When Ramona became sick, I couldn’t imagine losing a child, but that became a sad reality in 1997. Ramona fought with the true stubbornness of the Scotts and Coopers that was in her blood for 2 full years when they told her she may only have 6-9 months. A few years after Ramona passed, Maxine was diagnosed and my heart went out to her. I wanted to be there for her and she too fought the good fight with everything in her. I invited her to stay with me in my home so we could be close and I could be right there to help her and be company to her. We had some good laughs and cried some good tears too as we had many things in common, but also shared something we tried to overcome in every way we could imagine and tried to keep personal, but we know everyone knew – our husbands were alcoholics and living with an alcoholic is something I think that only those that have walked in those shoes really know what that is like. Maxine’s children saw me growing weary, as I was well into my 80’s and brought Maxine home with them where she was lovingly cared for as she drew her last breaths.

So once again, I pulled myself together because I had so many blessings to be thankful for. Births, weddings, graduations, holiday get togethers, family reunions and time to reminisce upon the good times with family. I remember the times I was able to travel to Hawaii twice. The first was with my wonderful friend from my days at General Motors, Jean, and the second time was with Maxine. I also got to go to Israel with Jean and that truly was a trip of a lifetime. There were also lots of trips to Georgia and West Virginia to visit with family and even a trip to California with my granddaughter, just the 2 of us.

As we all grow older, it is inevitable that we begin to realize that our life here on earth is not eternal. Our only opportunity for eternal life is through Jesus Christ and to all that know me know that I gave my heart to Jesus many years ago and looked forward to the day that I would meet Jesus and be reunited with everyone that I missed so much. And so with that, you all are gathered here because you now see that my story here on earth has come to an end just a few months short of my 93rd birthday. I know that it was so hard for my family to see me, not like they were used to seeing me. Please know that I too fought with that spirit that is in our blood and while I wanted so badly to stay here because I love you all so much, I was just so very tired and when Jesus called me home on January 9, 2018, I had to go. I know you all understand, and I want you all to know that my love for you is never-ending, just like Jesus’ love for all of us is never-ending. Keep me in your hearts, laugh at the things we found funny, listen to the music we enjoyed together, look at the photographs of us through the years and know that I am always with you.

I do have one last request, and I hope you will do your best to honor it. To love one another and forgive. We never really know when our last day will come, don’t let anger and misunderstandings keep you from the love God meant for us to have for one another during our time here on earth. Life is hard enough, without love and forgiveness we are empty. Don’t go through life empty, fill your hearts daily on the blessings God has given us, appreciate them and when your day is done here on earth, go to Jesus with a heart bursting at the seams with love – I know I did.