Shirley Ann Cooper

Shirley Ann Cooper, 85, Jamestown, formerly of Sutton, ND, died Sunday, August 7, 2011, of complications from cancer.

Shirley was born on August 24, 1926, in Courtney, ND, to Phyllis (Pratt) and Ray Cooper, the oldest of six children. She graduated from Sutton Public School as valedictorian.

Over the years, she worked for Farmers Union in Sutton and later, worked during North Dakota legislative sessions taking phone calls. Shirley was involved with numerous community and church organizations, including the Farmers Union youth groups, a Sunday school teacher at the Methodist Church in Sutton, and the local Rebekah Lodge. She also took part in a bowling league and square dancing group.

Shirley valued family above all, and not only helped care for her parents, but played an important role in the lives of her nieces and nephews, who viewed her as a secondary mother. She not only taught them to bake and garden, she shared her values, her unflinching support, her loyalty, and her love. Shirley enjoyed gardening, feeding and watching birds, baking, playing cards, her cats, (especially Baxter, who was with her until the end), and most of all, laughing and spending time with family and friends. In a noisy family, she and her brother, Rod, had voices that carried over the din, and we will all miss that sound.

This loving and somewhat eccentric woman didn't want a big fuss when she passed away. But we would be remiss to not at least mention what a loving and remarkable person she was, and how her passing marks the end of an era for our family. (Oh, and her fudge. The woman made fudge that incited battles and hoarding. It was a treasured commodity in our family.) She will be sorely missed and lovingly remembered.

Shirley is survived by her sisters, Judy Cooper Lyle and Gloria Miller, Minneapolis, MN; her brother, Gary (Becky) Cooper, Jamestown; and sister-in-law, Joyce Cooper, Velva, ND; nieces and nephews include Debbie (Doug) Thingstad, Jamestown; Randy (Barb) Vangrud, Fergus Falls, MN; Cindy (Cy) Kittelson, Velva, ND; Jeff Cooper, Velva, ND; Lora (Willy) Soderholm, Minot, ND; Melinda Sandoval, Minneapolis, MN; and Anjanette McIntryre, Fargo, ND; a number of great nieces and nephews also survive, and one great-great nephew. (Shirley also grew close to several caregivers who made her life more comfortable in recent years, and she appreciated all of them.)

She was preceded in death by her parents; a sister, Dorothy Vangrud; and a brother, Rod Cooper.