Dorla Dean Cooper of Chebanse passed away on Wednesday, November 1, 2023 at her home in Chebanse where she was born 89 years ago. Visitation will be from 1:00-4:00 pm on Sunday, November 5, 2023 at Knapp Funeral Home in Clifton. Funeral services will be at 11:00 am on Monday, November 6, 2023 at United Church of Christ in Chebanse. Rev. Dr. Marsha Collins will officiate. Burial will follow at Evergreen Cemetery in Chebanse.
Dorla was born on August 9, 1934 in Chebanse, the daughter of Sylvester and Agnes (Anderson) May. She graduated from Central High School in 1952 and attended Mary Crest Business College. She worked for Charlotte Shourd Catering, was a floor supervisor at the Bear Brand Hosiery for seven years, and Deerwood Nursing Home.
She married Paul L. Cooper on November 19, 1960 in Chebanse. She is survived by her husband of sixty-three years, Paul; three children, Gary (Michelle) Cooper of St. Anne, Renee (Dennis) Behrends of Danforth, and Jerry (Angela) Cooper of Chebanse; eleven grandchildren, Kevin (Kate) Behrends, Alicia (David) Kirkpatrick, Candace (Tober) Corrigan, Melanie (Austin) Bauer, Theresa (Nathan) Milewski, Angela (Brock) Bridges, Bobby (Elizabeth) Cooper, Andrea Cooper, Joshua Cooper, Grace Cooper, and Christina Cooper; seven great grandchildren and one on the way; one sister, Wilma Ligthart of Bourbonnais; brother in law and sister in law, Norman and Lois Cooper; several nieces and nephews; and great nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in passing by her parents; infant brother, Eugene May; brother in law, Marvin Cooper; and great grand babies, Aaron and Charlie Behrends.
Dorla was a past president of the Limestone PTA and life member of Illinois PTA. She was a member of the order of the Rose: preceptor laureate degree; 50th Golden Circle Ritual: The Laureate Kappa Chapter of Beta Sigma Phi for 50 years. She was a 50+ year member of St. Mark United Methodist Church in Kankakee. She volunteered at the Kankakee County Fair for 30 years in the Arts and Crafts building. She also loved to quilt and was a charter member of the Kankakee Quiltmakers and part of the mad quilters group at Asbury United Methodist Church. She also made Quilts of Valor for Heritage Village. One of her greatest accomplishments was making over forty quilts for the Wounded Veterans. Dorla continued to make quilts until just two months ago. She was a 30+ year member of the Chebanse American Legion Auxiliary. She loved helping people with their history and was a member of the Chebanse Historical Society.
Memorials may be made to the American Legion Auxiliary of Chebanse, United Church of Christ in Chebanse, or to the donor’s choice.
Please share a memory of Dorla at knappfuneralhomes.com.
