Opal Marie Cooper
Opal Marie (Havens) Cooper, 93, died Wednesday, March 1, 2017. She was born Sept. 13, 1923, to Glade E. and Lois E. Havens in Brooks, Iowa.
She graduated from Bishop Clarkson Memorial School of Nursing, Omaha, Neb., in September 1944. She married Willis F. Cooper on June 24, 1944, in Omaha, Neb. They enjoyed 56 years of married life before Willis’ death on Dec. 3, 2000. Their first home was in Childress, Texas, where Willis was stationed in the U.S. Army Air Forces and she worked as an RN at Childress Army Air Force Base Hospital. She worked as an RN in Iowa for more than 20 years.
They moved to Bella Vista in 1984, where she continued her nursing career at Concordia Care Center and later as a home health nurse. In 1984, she earned her real estate license and served as property manager for Coldwell Banker Arka-Vista Realty from 1990 to 1996. After retiring from real estate, she and Willis owned and operated Cozy Quilt Custom Machine Quilting.
She was a member of the Bella Vista Community Church, where she was active on various committees. She belonged to PEO Chapter GR in Britt, Iowa, and Chapter CD in Bella Vista.
Her hobbies included crafts of all kinds (sewing, counted cross-stitch, embroidery, crochet and quilting), collecting Heisey glass, flying, and cooking for visitors to her home. Her quilts are lasting mementos for her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and many other family members and friends.
She was preceded in death by three siblings, Edna Pitts, Ruth Costin and A. Eugene Havens; and husband, Willis F. Cooper.
She is survived by two siblings, Bernard Havens and wife Mae Belle, and Martha Kretzinger; a sisterin-law, Estella Swartz; four children, LeRoy Cooper and wife Nancy, Burton Cooper and wife Glenda, Melissa Oskvig and husband Roger, and Melinda Brandenburg and husband David; 12 grandchildren; 24 great-grandchildren; and many nieces, nephews and friends.
In lieu of flowers or plants, memorials be made to House of Three, 101 Sarah Lane, Rogers, AR 72756 or Bella Vista Community Church, 75 E. Lancashire Blvd, Bella Vista, AR 72714.
A memorial service was held Saturday, March 4, at Bella Vista Community Church.
A private burial will be held at Fayetteville National Cemetery.
Arrangements are by Bella Vista Funeral Home and Crematory.
Online condolences may be made at www.funeralmation.com.