May 22, 1940 - April 1, 2021
Mom left us peacefully on April 1, 2021 after fighting a short battle with lung cancer or as mom called it "The Big C". She will be sadly missed by her 5 children; Terry (Joanne), Doug (Kathy), David (Glenna), Luanne (Jeff) and Cheryl, her 10 grandchildren; Michael, Lindsay (Matt), Cory (Sam), Sara (Chris), Danny, Kate (Russ), Christopher (Sara), Amanda, Todd (Ji) and Ashley plus her 14 great grandchildren. her two sisters, Elaine Warren and Donna Clough. She goes to join her soul mate, Don McMillan, her mother, Alice Stephenson and her sister, Doreen Hockey.
She will be remembered by her very special friends at Blossom Park that were her life line for the past 18 years. She will also be missed dearly by her extended family in Barriere.
Mom was born May 22, 1940 in Trail, BC. She moved to Louis Creek, BC at the age of three. Mom grew up in the Louis Creek/Barriere area. She was married in 1956 to Jim Cooper. She was proud to declare that she was a 'Stay-At-Home-Mom' raising 5 very active children.
Mom spent several years in the 80's in Williams Lake then moved back to Kamloops for a couple years before her and Don McMillan moved to Calgary in 1990. Mom and Don would come back to the area for visits several times a year. They would joke that if they ever won the lottery "they would spend it in BC".
They returned to Kamloops in 2003 the year of the Big Fires in the Thompson-Okanagan and settled into the warm-hearted adult community of Blossom Park. Sadly Mom lost Don a year later to lung cancer.
Mom believed that the "Best things in life are Free" Spending time with family and friends was the biggest joy in her life. On the top of her list were her visits to Barriere and Kelowna. She spoke of later sitting at home alone contemplating and envisioning the wonderful occasions she had experienced with everyone.
She took comfort in posting photos of all her children, grandchildren and greats on every cupboard, wall and mantle in her home. Her neighbors called her home the "House of Love".
Family celebrations will not be the same without the buckets and tins of mom's homemade cookies and tarts. She boasted that she would go through 10 lbs of butter and 50 lbs of flour in a Christmas. She took delight in sending and delivering care packages to all.
Mom was a good cook, passing on recipes to many. Folks will remember the big shake-up of the 2002 Fall Fair when Cory Cooper's Gramma beat out Steve MacDougal's Gramma with her prize winning Ginger Snap cookies. Some of mom's recipes were rather difficult to translate with notes like, "depends on what I have in the fridge" or "I just wing it"
She lived vicariously in all her children and grandchildren. She was proud of their family values, their work ethics, their accomplishments and their respectful nature.
She was a good listener, but she could talk your ear off too. She affectionately used silly old fashioned sayings "Quicker than a shit house minute" (got a laugh from many of grandchildren) and "You can call me anything, but don't call me late for supper showed her humble nature. Her use of endearments like "little buggers" and "old buzzard" were accepted whole-heartedly.
Mom was an avid gardener. She was dedicated to her fabulous colourful flower gardens which surrounded the outside of her home during the growing season. Mom faithfully watered and fertilized and was appreciative of her close friends when they relieved her when she was away with family. Those that knew mom will remember her fondness for hummingbirds and angels and the many decorative ways she showcased them.
Mom knew all the best buys on the shopping channel, she had a penchant for murder mysteries, enjoyed a good curling game and was entertained by CNN's accounting of Trump and world news.
Visiting was so difficult during COVID but the grandchildren and greats would drive by and Facetiming with those that were locked down in their neighbourhoods.
No Service at this time. The family would like to thank Dr. Thomasse, the staff at Kamloops Hospice and the home care workers from Interior Health.
Mom would say, "Stay Positive!"