Melva Luree Jordan Backer Cooper Backer

A direct descendant of Joshua Hickman and Josinah van Meter of the houses of Moss and Meter, died peacefully at Saint Anne’s Home in San Francisco, California on September 22, 2017.

Born on her grandparents section of Cedar County, Nebraska in her father and mother’s farm house on October 17, 1925, Melva Luree was an independent sole and fearless pioneer. The only daughter of Lester Fern Jordan and LeNore Virginia Perfect Potter, she had her hair bobbed, rode and drove a black team of horses with a wagon behind, by the age of ten.

A devout Catholic and fierce Democrat, Melva equally loved her family, friends, homes, animals and plants. Her interest included art, interior design, fashion, music and she loved to dance. While still in high school, she met and fell in love with her future husband and father of her children at the West Randolph Nebraska Ballroom.

In 1941, against the wishes of her family, she left her life on the plains behind and moved out West to Oregon’s Willamette Valley where she married Roy John Backer (40 years) at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Albany, Oregon. Melva resided in this area where she and her husband raised three children Sharon Frances, Gregory John and Mark Charles Backer.

She was active with the Albany Hospital, Catholic Daughters and Linn County Democrats.

In keeping with her commitment to remain on the go and to never look back, she met and married Carroll Norton Cooper (10 years) at St. Dominic’s Catholic Church in San Francisco, California in the Fall of 1985, eventually moving to Petaluma, California in 1992 where she manicured not only herself, but her poodles Fannie and Jackie, her homes and her gardens.

Melva Luree lived in Petaluma until October 4, 2012 when she fulfilled her lifelong dream of living with the nuns at St. Anne’s Home in San Francisco, California. She was truly blessed.

The grandmother of Cal Michael, Aaron Jon Thomason and Korie Kay Backer Barge’, great-grandmother of Cal, Zachary, Anna, Adara, Fallon, Jon and Gregory, great-great grandmother of Julia, Brendyn, Elijah, Jordin and Marshall.

Melva Luree will always be remembered for here meticulous manner and style.

A Rosary will be held at 10:30am followed by a Mass at 11am on October 17, 2017, her 92nd birthday, at St. Anne’s Home, 300 Lake Street, San Francisco, California. A private entombment will be held in the family crypt at Fernwood Cemetery, Mill Valley. Please light a candle for Melva Luree on that day.

“To live in the hearts of those we leave behind is not to die!”