Lucille Cooper

1926 - 2016

Lucille M. Cooper
1926 - 2016
Lucille May Cooper (Peters), 90, of Boise, passed away Wednesday morning, April 20, 2016, at home. A 'Celebration Life' will be held at 10:30 AM, Friday, April 29 at the Alden-Waggoner Funeral Chapel. Burial will follow in Dry Creek Cemetery. Viewing will be held before the service from 9:30 AM until 10:30 AM.
Lucy was born March 11, 1926 in Mason City, Iowa. She spent her childhood surrounded by her six brothers and sister and a wealth of neighborhood friends. One of her most special memories was being alone at her grandparents' farm in Rockford, Iowa for 2-3 weeks. She learned how to bake cookies from her grandmother. Lucy loved to spend time with her friends. She especially enjoyed roller-skating. In fact, she met her future husband, William (Bill) Cooper at a skating rink. After two proposals, and the gift of a bracelet from the money he earned selling his car, Lucy agreed to marry him. They were married on December 24, 1945 in the middle of a snowstorm. They lived in a variety of places (beginning with parents, in-laws, and finally a single bedroom with a shared bath) until their first son, Craig William, was born in 1947 and soon after the family moved to Kansas City, Kansas. Their second son, Gary Allen, followed in 1953. Lucy enjoyed being a mother more than anything else and was very proud of her sons. Bill and Lucy then bought a 15 acre farm in Edwardville, Kansas . Lucy made a lot of jam out of the grapes and fruit from the orchard. In 1959, they moved the family across the country and settled in LaSierra, California. Lucy and Bill stayed in Southern California until moving to Boise, Idaho in 1968. She and Bill lived shortly in Emmett, ID, but due to Bill's health, they moved back to Boise, where she resided until her death.
Lucy loved her church friends like family and spent many hours in service with the WM's group at Central Assembly of God. She treasured her time spent with the women while doing Bible study or service projects. She also enjoyed being a part of the Winnebago International Chapter in Idaho and spent many weekends camping, fishing and enjoying "rallies" around the state. Lucy loved to garden; special care was always given to her roses and tomatoes. She also loved any plant that would draw in the hummingbirds. Lucy loved dogs, especially her beloved schnauzers, Benny, Ellie May and Tootsie. They brought her constant joy and companionship until their deaths. Lucy loved baking and loved to cook for her family. She passed on many of her recipes to family members who will think of her often when baking or cooking. She also enjoyed scrap-booking and crocheting- creating albums and blankets for all her grandchildren. After Bill's retirement, he and Lucy occupied much of their time by working together on crafts. Bill would cut out and glue wood crafts together and Lucy would paint them. They made a great team. Lucy was devoted to her husband of 59 years and became his primary caregiver for a number of years until his passing in 2004.
Family was of utmost importance to Lucy. She loved her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren She was their greatest champion and nothing made her more proud. She enjoyed spending as much time as she could get with them and her entire home was a gallery of their photos, cards, artwork and gifts. She would brag to anyone that would listen about them and their lives.
After her husband's death, she traveled with her church group to the east coast, back and forth to Oregon several times, and spent weekends in Round Valley with her granddaughter, Becky and her husband, Jasen. She traveled to Hawaii (even though she hated to fly) in her late 70's with her son, Gary and his wife, Donna. She called it her "bravest moment," which lead to a trip to Alaska with her daughter-in law, Ellen, to visit her granddaughter, Shelley. She also took up reading again, which she thoroughly enjoyed. She would devour books as quickly as they were received and would create stacks to take and trade in at the used store. As she aged, Lucy's "eat what I want" attitude meant that you could always find a cookie or donut on her counter. She loved her 'sweet treats', which lead some visitors to call her 'Sweetie.' She loved giving hugs and being hugged often. Toward the end, she found comfort in holding hands with loved ones, listening to gospel music and visits from the chaplain.
Lucille was a granddaughter, daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother. She was a very loving person and greatly loved in return. Her legacy will live on in all she touched.
The family would like to thank Visiting Angels, those who helped Lucy out (Christy Olson Robertson) , and St. Alphonsus Hospice; the RNs and chaplain for the assistance and, especially, their kindness.
Lucille is survived by her brother, Richard Peters of Boise; her sons and their wives, Craig and Ellen Cooper; Gary and Donna Cooper, all of Boise. Her grandchildren include: Shelley Cooper, Anchorage, AK; Becky Cooper (Jasen King), Mt. Shasta, CA; Jami Drake (Chris Drake), Duvall, WA; Chase Cooper, Boise. Lucy also had six beloved great grandchildren.