Cooper, Erma Rae (Grassfield)

Erma Rae (Grassfield) Cooper, 83, of Prairieburg, formerly of Central City, died Thursday, Aug. 22, 2013, at St. Luke's Hospital, Cedar Rapids. Funeral Service: 10:30 a.m. Monday, Aug. 26, at First United Methodist Church, Central City, by Pastor Josh Hansen. The family will greet friends from 3 until 7 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 25, at Murdoch Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Central City, and one hour before the service at the church on Monday. Burial: Boulder Cemetery, Prairieburg.

Survivors include her children, Rick Cooper of Cascade, Gary (Debra) Cooper of Marion, Marlene (Dennis) Booth of Central City, Larry Cooper of Hopkinton and Jana (Craig) Wilson of Hopkinton; eight grandchildren; four stepgrandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; one great-great-granddaughter; and siblings, David Grassfield of Anamosa, Arnold (Penny) Grassfield of Olin, Melvin (Linda) Grassfield of Anamosa, Carole (Ronald) Findley of Raleigh, N.C.; sisters-in-law, Margaret Grassfield of Anamosa and Sharine (Grassfield) Jani of Texas; and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Ernie; brothers, Jerry, Kenneth, Dennis, Richard, Donald and Darrel Grassfield; and sister-in-law, Shirley Grassfield.

Erma was born Dec. 1, 1929, in rural Jones County, Iowa, the daughter of Ray and Loretta (Darrow) Grassfield. She married Ernie Cooper on March 18, 1950, in Des Moines. Ernie died Feb. 10, 1994. Erma was a 4-H leader for many years and enjoyed baking, reading, knitting, attending craft shows, and “one armed bandits.” Erma especially loved spending time with her grandchildren.

Please sign the online guest book for Erma at www.murdochfuneralhome.com under obituaries.

Published Aug. 23, 2013