Joycell M. Cooper

Joycell Cooper, our dear Whiting cousin, has passed away. Her love and commitment for the reunions was profound. She will long be remembered for knowing every member of the Whiting family by name, for her infectious laugh, and for her Ghost Stories, told to the teenagers late at night for many years. Joycell Mae Hamblin Cooper “returned home” Monday, January 7, 2019. During the weeks prior to her passing, she was surrounded by her loving family, and the wonderful staff at Wildwood Retirement Home. She is survived by her brother, Markay Hamblin, her six children Janice & Tom Winden, Martin & Susan Cooper, Shawn & Linda Cooper, Lance & Karen Cooper, Angela and Rusty Lambrose and Vaylene & Justin Rollins, plus a bonus son, Jim Wild. She currently has 26 grandchildren, 37 great grandchildren and 6 great-great grandchildren. There are many adoring nieces, nephews and cousins. Joycell was born December 22, 1927 to Maree Berry and Mark Elbert Hamblin. She was the first grandchild of May & Herbert Berry. Her early life was filled with adventure. Her father was called to serve a full-time mission to the Hawaiian Islands, and Joycell and her mother went with him. A quick learner, Joycell picked up the native lifestyle directly from the other kids in the neighborhood. She learned to eat raw fish freshly caught from the ocean, and could shimmy up a palm tree. She would entertain the other missionaries with an authentic hula, usually perched on a quilt-covered table because she was so small, in a miniature hula skirt. She learned to love entertaining others, being the life of the party, and keeping complete control of her audience. These were traits that would serve her throughout her life. Along with the adventures in her childhood, came unusually challenging trials. Her father was troubled, often absent, and did not support the family. Other siblings came along, Leilani, Markay, and Jeannie, and her mother carried the parenting and financial responsibility for their family alone for many years. Her parents’ divorce came when Joycell was in her early teens. At the time, divorce was extremely rare, and Joycell as the oldest, faced much stigma and little understanding. She met and married Jack DeWayne Cooper, and Joycell worked as a dental assistant to put Jack through dental school. After Jack began practicing dentistry, she was able to stay home as a full-time mother, serving faithfully in many callings in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. During all the years, she lifted and lightened the loads of others. She was quick to see the burdens others carried. Her love for entertaining carried her through many adventures, roadshows, melodramas, talent shows, sugar plum fairy trees, plays, story-telling, and pageants. Through it all she was the life of the party, the center of attention, and usually the writer, costume designer, director and producer. Her husband, Jack, supported her in all her endeavors and she usually cast him as the hero, the villain, or the star. She was a faithful follower of the Savior, serving in every calling with exuberance, and spending many years as a temple worker. Just as her earliest years began on a mission, her final years were spent in a mission of love and goodwill to the staff and residents of the Wildwood Retirement Home. She was an influence for good there as queen of the palace. Farewell, and aloha, our beloved Joycell. The funeral will be held Saturday, January 19th at 11:00 a.m. in the Monett Ward Meetinghouse. Interment will be at the private family cemetery at a later date due to weather under the direction of Lakin Funeral Home in Pierce City.

Joycell M. Cooper

December 22, 1927 - January 7, 2019

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Joycell M. Cooper

December 22, 1927 - January 7, 2019

Sympathy Gifts

What We Do

About Us

Grief & Healing

Resources

Plan Ahead

Obituaries

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