Visitation:
4:00 to 6:00 p.m. on Friday, February 25, 2022, at
Fricke-Calvert-Schrader Funeral Home in Lincoln
Service:
10:00 a.m. on Saturday, February 26, 2022, at The
First United Methodist Church in Lincoln
Funeral home:
Fricke-Calvert-Schrader, Lincoln
Obituary
Mary Rachel Cooper, 93, passed away
peacefully in her sleep on February 22, 2022.
Mary was born July 24, 1928, the daughter of Herbert
and Eloise (Muncie) Dickenson in Paris. Mary
graduated from Paris High School and earned her B.S.
and M.A. in English Education from Illinois State
University.
She married Stanley H. Cooper of Normal, on February
26, 1949, in Paris. He preceded her in death on
October 28, 1994.
Mary is survived by her children, Larry (Nancy)
Cooper of Rockford, MI, Nancy (Brian) Wrage of
Atlanta, and Jean (George) Johnston of Edmonds, WA.;
grandchildren, Ian Cooper, Leanna Foster, Holly
Eden, Rachel Mattson, Kyle Johnston, and Haley
Serralta. She was blessed with eleven great
grandchildren, Zoe, Halie, Kennedy, Jackson,
Benjamin, Jacob, Sarah, Macklin, Sloane, Barrett and
Reid.
Mary was preceded in death by her husband, three
brothers, and one infant sister.
She began her teaching career at New Holland High
School, continued teaching at Elkhart High School,
and finished at Mount Pulaski High School. Retiring
from teaching after 26 years, Mary then worked at
Lincoln College Library for nineteen years. |
Mary was very active in her local
community having been nominated for citizen of the
year in 2014. She was a faithful member of First
United Methodist Church for 72 years, serving in
numerous leadership roles. She was a proud member of
The Daughters of The American Revolution; 34-year
member of GFWC Lincoln Woman’s Club, serving as
president two years; life member of National
Education Association, Dewitt-Logan County Retired
Teachers; Jolly Seniors, Oasis Senior Center, The
Humane Society of Logan County, and Logan County
Food Pantry.
Services for Mary will be held 10:00 a.m. on
Saturday, February 26, 2022, at The First United
Methodist Church in Lincoln, officiated by Rev. Brad
Curtis. Visitation will take place from 4:00 to 6:00
p.m. on Friday, February 25, 2022, at
Fricke-Calvert-Schrader Funeral Home in Lincoln.
Burial will follow the services at Zion Cemetery in
Lincoln.
Memorial donations may be made in Mary’s name to
First United Methodist Church, GFWC Lincoln Woman’s
Club, or the Humane Society of Logan County.
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Rachel Cooper
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