Carol Jean Cooper

Carol Jean Collman Cooper, 83, formerly of Kirksville MO, passed away in Bay City MI on October 14, 2025 after a long battle with COPD. Carol was born on April 22, 1942 in St. Louis MO to the late George H. Collman and Maggie Massey Collman. She graduated from Livingston High School (Livingston, IL) in 1960. Carol had a creative and varied work life which made use of her skill in tailoring, her strengths as a salesperson, and her love of antiques. Until her retirement, Carol owned and operated Remember When, an antique shop in Hurdland, MO. Carol's final year was spent at Symphony Tri-Cities in Bay City, MI. The family is grateful for the excellent care she received. Among the staff, Carol was known for her witty one liners, her love of bingo and interest in PBS historical dramas.
Carol's primary work was parenting her four children. She brought creativity and humor to running a busy household. She is survived by her children: Kenneth O'Dell, Diana O'Dell Hadad, Kelly (Todd) Krusemark, and Michael (Nancy Moore) O'Dell. Her grandchildren are Allie Blanton, Bryan O'Dell, Ray (Persia) Hadad, Rose Hadad, Jeremy Krusemark, Shelby Krusemark, Cameron Krusemark, Ryan Krusemark and Ethan (Nikita) O'Dell. Carol was delighted to become a great-grandmother and proudly displayed photos of Jackson, Bennett, Talos, Ahriman, and Atlas. Carol is survived by all three of her siblings: Charles D. Collman, Robert Collman, and Dennis Collman.
I accordance with Carol's wishes, cremation has taken place. A private memorial will take place at a later date. In lieu of flowers a donation may be made to Public Broadcasting (pbs.org) or the American Lung Association (lung.org). Funeral home arrangements are being provided by Trahan Funeral Chapel. Celebrate Carol's life online by sharing your favorite stories and photos on her dedicated webpage at www.trahanfc.com