Lois Caroline (Graham) COOPER

COOPER, KELLY, GRAHAM, QUINN

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 1/13/2007 at 10:34:52

Memorial services for Lois C. Cooper will be 2 p.m. Thursday at First Presbyterian Church in Jefferson, with interment at the Jefferson Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 6 to 7:30 p.m. today at Slininger-Rossow Funeral Home in Jefferson.

Lois Caroline Cooper was born May 3, 1909 in Ottumwa, IA, the daughter of Joseph L. Graham and Katherine Kelly Graham. Lois graduated from Ottumwa High School on May 23, 1926. She then attended Parsons College in Fairfield for two years and graduated from Katherine Gibbs Secretarial School in Boston, MA in 1930. For ten years, she worked as a private secretary to a vice-president in the trust department of the Northwestern National Bank in Minneapolis, MN. On October 27, 1940, Lois married Thomas O. Cooper at her family's home in Ottumwa, Iowa. Lois and Tom lived in Minneapolis for one year and then moved to Jefferson in November 1941. During the next 42 years, the couple lived in Indianola, Clarion, Jefferson and Des Moines. They were winter residents of Sun City, AZ from 1976 until June of 1987 when Sun City became their year-round home. In March 1992, Lois and Tom moved back to Jefferson on a permanent basis, where Lois was an active member of the community. She was a member of Friday Club, Beta Tau Delta (50 year member), Daughters of the American Revolution and JK Chapter of P.E.O., Des Moines, demitting to Chapter CZ in Jefferson in April of 1992. During World War II, while her husband was in service, Lois worked on the Ration Board and later as secretary to the county attorney, William C. Hanson. Lois was a certified Braillist, working with the Iowa Commission for the Blind transcribing books for many years. She did volunteer work in the auxiliary of the Greene County Hospital. She was a leader of a troop of Girl Scouts in Jefferson. She led summer vacation Bible School at the First Presbyterian Church for a number of years. Lois also served as secretary of the Sunday school, and treasurer of the church. She was awarded Associate in Christian Education of the United Presbyterian Church by the Women's Association of the First Presbyterian Church of Jefferson. While living in Des Moines, Lois worked as a volunteer in the business office of the Central Presbyterian Church for many years and she also worked as a volunteer at the Des Moines Art Center. Lois was an active member of the choirs at the Clarion, Jefferson and Des Moines churches for 30 years.

Lois C. Cooper died April 26, 2004 in Jefferson, Iowa at the age of 94 years. She was preceded in death by her parents; her daughter, Susan Gayle Cooper, who died at birth; a sister, Helen Quinn; and a brother, John Graham. Surviving is her husband, Thomas O. Cooper of Jefferson.

April 28, 2004
Copyright (c) The Des Moines Register

Lois Caroline Cooper, 94, of Jefferson died Monday, April 26, 2004. Memorial service were held Thursday, April 29th at the First Presbyterian Church in Jefferson. Interment was in the Jefferson Cemetery.

Lois Caroline Cooper was born May 3, 1909, in Ottumwa, the daughter of Joseph L. Graham and Katherine Kelly Graham. Lois graduated from the Ottumwa High School on May 23, 1926. She then attended Parsons College in Fairfield for two years and graduated from Katherine Gibbs Secretarial School in Boston, Massachusetts in 1930. For 10 years she worked as a private secretary to a vice president in the trust department of the Northwestern National Bank in Minneapolis, Minnesota. On October 27, 1940, Lois married Thomas O. Cooper at her family's home in Ottumwa. Lois and Tom lived in Minneapolis for one year and then moved to Jefferson in November 1941. During the next 42 years the couple lived in Indianola, Clarion, Jefferson and Des Moines. They were winter residents of Sun City, Arizona from 1976 until June of 1987 when Sun City became their year round home. In March 1992, Lois and Tom moved back to Jefferson on a permanent basis, where Lois was an active member of the community. She was a member of the Friday Club, Beta Tau Delta (50 year member), Daughters of the American Revolution and JK Chapter of P.E.O., Des Moines, demitting to Chapter CZ in Jefferson in April of 1992. While living in Des Moines, Lois worked as a volunteer in the business office of the Central Presbyterian Church for many years and also worked as a volunteer at the Des Moines Art Center. Lois was an active member of the choirs at the Clarion, Jefferson and Des Moines churches for 30 years.

Lois is survived by her husband, Thomas O. Cooper of Jefferson. She was preceded in death by her parents; daughter, Susan Gayle Cooper who died at birth; sister, Helen Quinn; and a brother, John Graham.

© Wright County Monitor 2004
May 6, 2004