Mary Lou Cooper, 84, of Lee’s Summit, MO, passed away on January 30, 2014 at St Luke’s East Hospital, surrounded by her loving family. Visitation will be held from 6 to 8 PM on Wednesday, February 5, 2014, at McGilley State Line Chapel, 12301 State Line Rd., Kansas City, MO. Funeral Services will be at 10 AM on Thursday, February 6, 2014, at St. Matthew Presbyterian Church, 2217 Highgrove Road, Grandview, MO. Burial in Green Lawn Cemetery, Kansas City, MO. As a preference to flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Matthew Presbyterian Church.
Mary Lou Cooper was born on April 1, 1929 in Nevada, MO, to Alva LeRoy and Anna Maurine Porter. Her family Moved to Kansas City in 1943. She graduated from Paseo High School in 1947, and over the years attended numerous courses at Rockhurst College. She married Tommy L. Cooper, love of her life, on February 15, 1947, and together they had three children.
She spent her entire career from 1946 – 1990 at Southwestern Bell , where she worked her way up to become the second female District Level Manager in the SWBT Corporation. She served on several boards, including The Southeastern Jackson County Mental Health Association, The Association of the Blind, The Better Business Bureau, Starlight Theatre, The Greater Kansas City Chamber Of Commerce, The Rehabilitation Center, The Labor Management Council Of Greater Kansas City, and was a very active member as well as serving on the board of directors of the Altrusa Club Of Kansas City from 1988 – 1990. She also served as an Ambassador to the American Royal.
In 1974 she was Woman of the Year for the Raytown Chamber Of Commerce. She became the President of the Women’s Chamber Of Commerce of greater Kansas City in 1987, and in 1998 was President of the Lewis and Clark Council SWB Pioneers.
Mary Lou and Tommy have been devoted church members for 30 years at St. Matthew Presbyterian Church in Grandview, MO, where she also served as a deacon for several years.
She had a generous heart, feisty spirit, and a strong constitution. She took great pride in her home and family. She loved spending time with her grandkids, playing cards with friends, cooking (especially fish fries), decorating and gardening. She was such an incredible lady.
Mary Lou was preceded in death by her son, Michael Cooper in 1978, siblings Helen Murphy, Robert Porter, Beverly Goodson, TWIN sister Betty Sue Hanson, and her parents. She is survived by her husband of 67 years, Tommy L. Cooper, daughters: Nancy L. Grashuis (Jack) and Debra Freeman (Mark), eight grandsons, three granddaughters, sixteen great grandchildren, and one great-great granddaughter; sister, Mae Jones of Nixa, MO, and brother and sister-in-law Ralph and Milly Cooper, Kansas City, MO; as well as several nieces and nephews, and innumerable friends.
The family would like to extend their appreciation to her caregivers, Dannika Carter, Ebony Stephenson, Ashley Reeder, and Nika Howard for the constant kind and loving care shown to our Wife/Mother/Grandmother over the past year. We were very fortunate to have found you.
Mary Lou will be greatly missed by family and friends.
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