Melissa Cooper

Melissa Cooper was born Melissa Perkins on June 17, 1929. She lived her youngest years on a farm near Morocco, Indiana with her sister, Norlene, and her brothers, Glenwood, Chester, and Burl. Her mother, Flossie, was an elementary schoolteacher for over 35 years.

Melissa played the saxophone in her high school band. She worked as a secretary at her high school after she graduated. One very fond memory was when she was asked to participate on the HS staff’s donkey basketball team!! She had always loved horses and didn’t hesitate a bit to join in the fun!

Melissa married Glenn Cooper on Dec. 23, 1948. They moved to New Jersey while Glenn served in the Army. They had two children, Ronald and Jean.

When the kids were little, Glenn and Melissa moved to Perrysburg, Ohio (in NW Ohio between Toledo and Bowling Green). Glenn was a radio maintainer for the B & O (later Penn Central) Railroad. Melissa colored High School Senior pictures with light oil paints for a photographic studio in Michigan. They mailed hundreds of these photos to her over many years.

In 1963, Melissa was blessed with another child, Russell. She continued to work at home and took a correspondence course from Famous Artists Schools. Melissa has always enjoyed creating oil paintings of landscapes, flowers, and animals.

She loved and took great pride in her extensive rose garden.

Although they kept in touch with their farming roots in Indiana, Melissa, Glenn and family moved to Mesa, Arizona in 1970. Glenn continued in radio/electronics maintenance with Maricopa County Sheriff’s Department. Melissa studied hard and became a licensed ham radio operator just like her husband. She and Glenn enjoyed their ham radio group outings and volunteering to “run traffic” at horse shows, car races, and local emergency situations. They also helped with the local weather-net group. Melissa did all of the artwork for their quarterly newsletters.

Just for fun, once they were settled in Mesa, Glenn bought Melissa a Baldwin theater organ. She played many a tune on it for nearly 30 years.

Another of the Cooper passions was travel. Keeping the budget in mind, Glenn, Melissa and family traveled and camped all around the U.S. and Canada. Melissa has been in all of the 50 states now…..including Alaska and Hawaii!

Melissa now has quite a family. Besides her own three children and their spouses, she has six grandchildren: Chris, David, Paul, Erin, Scott and Jenny as well as two great-grandchildren: Alex and Adelle.

Melissa moved to Texas in November of 2005 to be closer to her daughter who lives in Allen

Memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer's Association http://www.alz.org/alzheimers_disease_what_is_alzheimers.asp

Arrangements under the direction of Jarrid Stout at Ted Dickey Funeral Home, Plano, TX.

As most of you know, Melissa Cooper died in her sleep early Tuesday morning. This Saturday April 9 at 10:30AM, we are having a funeral service at Melcher Mortuary. Afterwards, there is a brief grave side service at Mesa Cemetery. It may rain, so please come prepared if you wish to do so.

Melcher Mortuary:

(East side of Stapely, just South of Main)

43 South Stapley Drive

Mesa AZ

(480) 964-4537

Mesa Cemetery

(Central - West side of the cemetery)

1212 N Center St,

Mesa, AZ

(480) 644-2335