Obituary for Karen Joyce Cooper
Karen Joyce Cooper, passed away on Tuesday, October 26, 2010, at the age of 49, at Willow Park Health Care Center in Lawton. We"re gathered today to celebrate her short but full life.
Karen was born on February 10, 1961 to Easter Lilly Pica and Lonnie Pocho in Lawton Oklahoma, as a full blood Comanche Indian. Ten days after her birth, Karen was adopted by Leona and Buford Howard and spent her first 9 years in Amarillo Texas. Karen was a curious and active child and Leona and Buford being in their 60"s had their hands full with Karen. When Karen was 9, Buford was diagnosed with diabetes and the family relocated to Mangum. Buford deteriated quickly from this disease and soon passed, leaving Leona to raise Karen by herself. Leona"s oldest daughter Bernice Armestead (Karen"s adoptive sister and hero) along with Bernice"s children Sharon and Sherry helped their mother and grandmother raise Karen and indeed it took all of them. Karen attended Mangum schools and during her senior year she married William Allen (Bill) Cooper in 1980. Out of that marriage was born a son, William Andrew Scott Cooper, in 1981. Bill, a Vietnam Era Veteran, knew the value of an education and insisted that Karen attend college which she did, earning a Bachelors Degree in Psychology from Western Oklahoma State College in Altus and a Masters and PHD of Psychology from Cameron University in Lawton Oklahoma. In 1985, she was diagnosed with Diabetes which she fought valiantly for the rest of her life. She loved life, family and friends, small talk and tall stories. Laughter and hugs were part of her personality. She was the most compassionate person you would ever hope to meet. She believed in the Living God and became a Baptist at the age of thirteen. She loved to watch the, I Love Lucy reruns she had enjoyed as a child, and loved the characters of Lucy and Ethyl. Karen enjoyed music, especially Elvis Presley"s from Rock & Roll to Gospel. Always a cheerful person with many friends, she used the telephone to reach out to everyone, especially when she was unable to leave her home. She could talk all day and all night to her old friends and new ones as well. She especially loved her grandchildren"s visits and good food. Cheese enchiladas and beef stroganoff were two of her favorites but a good old cheeseburger (meat and cheese only) and coca cola were never turned down. She enjoyed her home cooked meals by her family. She was a very kind and giving individual. She gave sometimes to the point of doing without herself. Karen had a gentile spirit and will be missed by many. We will all deeply miss her infectious smile, laugh and big bear hugs.
Karen was preceded in death by her biological mother, Easter Lilly Pica, her adoptive parents Leona and Buford Howard, her husband William (Bill) Allan Cooper in 1994, her adoptive sister Bernice Armistead in 1990, and a grandchild Alyssa Dawn Cooper, daughter of Crystal Payne and William Scott Cooper, in 2008. She is survived by her son William Andrew Scott Cooper, two grandchildren, Angelita Joy Rodriguez Cooper and James Scott Lawson Cooper, her adoptive sisters Snooks Adams of Oklahoma City and Coralee Henderson of Broken Arrow, her adoptive brother Sonny Downs of Yukon, her nieces Sherry Craft and Sharon Flynn both of Mangum, long time fianc" Johnny Ferguson who loved her so dearly, and her aunt, Mary Pica. Johnny was the best thing that ever happened to Karen, loving her through it all, the good times and bad. She often said she hit the lotto when she met Johnny, and everyone in the family agrees with her, a finer man doesn"t exist she would say. Finally the family members want to express a special thanks to some of her friends who also helped her as part time care givers, Nedra Brinkman, Elaine Smith, Casandra (San) Miller, Savanna Crow, Jo Ann Leamon to only name a few and of course the love of her life, Johnny Ferguson.
Now we say goodbye to someone that touched so many hearts. We will miss her every day. Karen, from all your family and friends we send our love.
Funeral service for Karen Cooper will be held at 10 a.m., Friday, October 29, 2010, at Mangum First Baptist Church with Pastor Shawn Johnson officiating. Interment will follow at Riverside Cemetery under the direction of Greer Funeral Home of Mangum.
The family will greet friends at Greer Funeral Home on Thursday, October 28, 2010 from 6 until 7 p.m.
Online tributes may be made to the family at www.GreerFuneral.com
10/28/2010
6:00 PM
7:00 PM
Visitation
Greer Funeral Home
Mangum
OK
10/29/2010
10:00 AM
Funeral
Mangum First Baptist Church
Mangum
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Karen was born on February 10, 1961 to Easter Lilly Pica and Lonnie Pocho in Lawton Oklahoma, as a full blood Comanche Indian. Ten days after her birth, Karen was adopted by Leona and Buford Howard and spent her first 9 years in Amarillo Texas. Karen was a curious and active child and Leona and Buford being in their 60"s had their hands full with Karen. When Karen was 9, Buford was diagnosed with diabetes and the family relocated to Mangum. Buford deteriated quickly from this disease and soon passed, leaving Leona to raise Karen by herself. Leona"s oldest daughter Bernice Armestead (Karen"s adoptive sister and hero) along with Bernice"s children Sharon and Sherry helped their mother and grandmother raise Karen and indeed it took all of them. Karen attended Mangum schools and during her senior year she married William Allen (Bill) Cooper in 1980. Out of that marriage was born a son, William Andrew Scott Cooper, in 1981. Bill, a Vietnam Era Veteran, knew the value of an education and insisted that Karen attend college which she did, earning a Bachelors Degree in Psychology from Western Oklahoma State College in Altus and a Masters and PHD of Psychology from Cameron University in Lawton Oklahoma. In 1985, she was diagnosed with Diabetes which she fought valiantly for the rest of her life. She loved life, family and friends, small talk and tall stories. Laughter and hugs were part of her personality. She was the most compassionate person you would ever hope to meet. She believed in the Living God and became a Baptist at the age of thirteen. She loved to watch the, I Love Lucy reruns she had enjoyed as a child, and loved the characters of Lucy and Ethyl. Karen enjoyed music, especially Elvis Presley"s from Rock & Roll to Gospel. Always a cheerful person with many friends, she used the telephone to reach out to everyone, especially when she was unable to leave her home. She could talk all day and all night to her old friends and new ones as well. She especially loved her grandchildren"s visits and good food. Cheese enchiladas and beef stroganoff were two of her favorites but a good old cheeseburger (meat and cheese only) and coca cola were never turned down. She enjoyed her home cooked meals by her family. She was a very kind and giving individual. She gave sometimes to the point of doing without herself. Karen had a gentile spirit and will be missed by many. We will all deeply miss her infectious smile, laugh and big bear hugs.
Karen was preceded in death by her biological mother, Easter Lilly Pica, her adoptive parents Leona and Buford Howard, her husband William (Bill) Allan Cooper in 1994, her adoptive sister Bernice Armistead in 1990, and a grandchild Alyssa Dawn Cooper, daughter of Crystal Payne and William Scott Cooper, in 2008. She is survived by her son William Andrew Scott Cooper, two grandchildren, Angelita Joy Rodriguez Cooper and James Scott Lawson Cooper, her adoptive sisters Snooks Adams of Oklahoma City and Coralee Henderson of Broken Arrow, her adoptive brother Sonny Downs of Yukon, her nieces Sherry Craft and Sharon Flynn both of Mangum, long time fianc" Johnny Ferguson who loved her so dearly, and her aunt, Mary Pica. Johnny was the best thing that ever happened to Karen, loving her through it all, the good times and bad. She often said she hit the lotto when she met Johnny, and everyone in the family agrees with her, a finer man doesn"t exist she would say. Finally the family members want to express a special thanks to some of her friends who also helped her as part time care givers, Nedra Brinkman, Elaine Smith, Casandra (San) Miller, Savanna Crow, Jo Ann Leamon to only name a few and of course the love of her life, Johnny Ferguson.
Now we say goodbye to someone that touched so many hearts. We will miss her every day. Karen, from all your family and friends we send our love.
Funeral service for Karen Cooper will be held at 10 a.m., Friday, October 29, 2010, at Mangum First Baptist Church with Pastor Shawn Johnson officiating. Interment will follow at Riverside Cemetery under the direction of Greer Funeral Home of Mangum.
The family will greet friends at Greer Funeral Home on Thursday, October 28, 2010 from 6 until 7 p.m.
Online tributes may be made to the family at www.GreerFuneral.com
10/28/2010
6:00 PM
7:00 PM
Visitation
Greer Funeral Home
Mangum
OK
10/29/2010
10:00 AM
Funeral
Mangum First Baptist Church
Mangum
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