Shirley Cooper

BRAIDWOOD—Shirley A. Cooper (nee Dare) age 71, of Braidwood passed away on July 11, 2017, with family by her side at Joliet Area Community Hospice in Joliet.  
She was born on March 15, 1946, the eldest child of George E. and Marie (Benson) Dare Sr.  Following graduation from Coal City High School with the Class of 1964, Shirley married David A. Cooper on June 26, 1964, at the Coal City Methodist Church.  They had recently observed their fifty-third anniversary.  Shirley began her career in banking in the mid 1960's at the State Bank of Braidwood.  During her more than 30 years in banking, she became a trusted and reliable resource for customers in the Braidwood area.  In recent years she worked for Edward Jones Investment and Wells Fargo Investments continuing with the personal service her customers had come to know.  Shirley was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Braidwood.  She was a former member of the Braidwood Fire Sirens.  Shirley served as the treasurer of the Reed - Custer School District and also served on the Braidwood Police Pension Board.  In her free time, Shirley enjoyed watching the birds, especially the cardinals.  Getting together with her monthly card group as one of her favorite activities.  Above all she enjoyed attending her granddaughter Zoriana's events:  basketball, cheerleading competitions, softball games and speech contest.  Family gatherings were her favorite.  Family reunions, holidays, birthdays, and “just because” were important to keep the family bond.  
Shirley is survived by her husband, David Cooper; her daughter, Dawn Cooper; her granddaughter, Zoriana Cooper.  She is further survived by her father, George E. Dare, Sr., and her siblings:  Georgiean Benson of Monticello, IL,  George E. (Kathy) Dare, Jr. of Morris, IL,  Beverly McKee of Cape Coral, FL,  Betty (William) Booras of Plainfield, IL, and Donna (Joey) Ferrari of South Wilmington, IL.  Also surviving is her sister-in-law Kathleen (Donald) Gerz of Osh Kosh, WI, as well as countless aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.  
Preceding Shirley were her mother, Marie Dare, her in-law's, Alexander and Mildred Cooper, and her brother-in-law, Daniel Cooper.  
 Relatives and friends may visit and pay their respects to Shirley and her family on Monday, July 17, at R.W. Patterson Funeral Home & Crematory from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., with funeral service following at 7 p.m. with Pastor Dale Tolly officiating.  
Cremation rites will be accorded following services.  
For more information and to visit her online guestbook, please log on to www.rwpattersonfuneralhomes.com or find their facebook page at R.W. Patterson Funeral Homes.
Arrangements are under the direction of R.W. Patterson Funeral Home & Crematory, 401 E. Main St., Braidwood.