Lillian Cooper

Lillian Cooper was a gentle soul with a warm and giving heart, who could always be counted on as a support for those close to her and a shoulder to lean on. Lillian didn’t need thousands of flashy things in her life, but was content to live in the moment, appreciating the family, friends and events that brought her life incredible joy.

The year was 1918 and Woodrow Wilson had been elected to his second term as President, Irving Berlin penned “God Bless America”, and World War I was reaching its crescendo. On June 22, 1918, Mahlon and Ella (Parrish) Miller of Middlebury, Indiana welcomed a tiny bundle of joy into their lives with the birth of their first child, a beautiful daughter they named Lillian Dorothy. She was later joined by her two younger brothers, Robert and Lester, who completed the Miller household.

Along with her brothers, Lillian grew up in Middlebury, and received her education in the area schools. Shortly after graduating in 1936, she went to work at the Middlebury Clock Factory, and it was here that Lillian met the love of her life, Wayne Cooper. After a traditional courtship, the two were happily married in the Methodist Parsonage in Goshen, Indiana on February 17, 1940. Lillian and Wayne spent the next 58 years together, raising their three children: Nancy, Karen and Gary, and sharing many wonderful memories as a family.

Lillian was a wonderful mother, who was patient, caring and generous with her time; she never thought twice about going out of her way to help someone who needed her. Besides being a devoted wife and mother, she and her husband, Wayne, owned and operated the Vicksburg Locker Plant for 23 years, where they specialized in frozen foods and curing meats.

When it came to relaxing and getting away from it all, the family headed up north to their cabin on Big Bass Lake, which was situated on an island that only had a small bridge to drive across to get to it. Both Lillian and Wayne loved to fish, and enjoyed many summers fishing at the cabin and going to the Upper Peninsula, near near Raber. Lillian liked to fish for perch while Wayne preferred trolling for Walleye, they spent countless hours together reeling in their catches. When not on the water, the couple also enjoyed taking bus tours across the U.S. and Canada.

In her more leisure moments, Lillian liked to tend to her beautiful flower gardens, or spend some time sewing and quilting. She was also a great cook and baker, especially when it came to her extraordinary homemade apple pies. Lillian always enjoyed working in the kitchen and she often envisioned herself teaching young girls how to get around the kitchen.

In her older years, when Lillian’s health began to fail, her family came together to help her so she could stay in her home. Then, last year, Lillian was diagnosed with cancer the day after Thanksgiving, and her family’s first concern was that she got the tender care she needed. Surrounded by the family she loved so dearly, Lillian went home to be with her Lord on Friday, February 5, 2010.

Visit with her family and friends, view her life story film and share light refreshments on Monday, February 8, from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Life Story Funeral Home, 409 S. Main Street, Vicksburg (649-1697). A funeral will be held on Tuesday, February 9, at 2:00 p.m. at the same location.

Lillian was preceded in death by her husband, Wayne, on April 16, 1998, her son-in-law, Charles Kunselman, and her brother, Robert Miller. She is survived by her children: Nancy Kunselman, Karen (James) Mayhak, Gary Cooper; her grandchildren: Connie (Douglas) Hall of Vicksburg, Lorrie (Gregory) Moran of Horton, Melissa (Lee) Olger of Martin, Monica (John) Mulac of Peru, IN, Seth Mayhak of Bangor, Cheryl (Scott) Nash of Redmond, WA; her great grandchildren: Ryan, Andrew, Jared & Jenna Hall, Sarah & David Moran, Holly & Mackenzie Olger, Mya Mulac; her brother, Lester Miller of Bristol, IN; and many other relatives. Please visit Lillian’s personal memory page at www.lifestorynet.com where you may share a memory or photo with her family or sign her online guest book before coming to the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to the Kalamazoo Gospel Mission or Hospice Care of Southwest Michigan.