Cooper

Phyllis Ann (Miller) Cooper of Slippery Rock Township, died on April 25, 2023, at Good Samaritan Hospice in Cabot, after fighting breast cancer for over eight years.

Born March 9, 1945, in Pittsburgh, she was the daughter of Louis Leopold and Caroline Ann Louise (Ketz) Miller. They preceded her in death.

Phyllis graduated from Peabody High School in 1963, and went on to be a legal secretary in Pittsburgh. She later was the secretary to multiple department heads at Slippery Rock State College.

She married Lilburn Bruce Cooper on Sept. 29, 1967, in Slippery Rock. He preceded her in death on Aug. 8, 2019.

Phyllis accompanied her husband, Lilburn, to California to spend time with him before he was deployed to Vietnam. Upon Lilburn’s fulfillment of duty with the Seabees, they then returned to Slippery Rock where Phyllis stayed home to raise their three children. She later went to work at Giant Eagle in Slippery Rock in the bakery department, where she eventually became the manager. Phyllis retired from Giant Eagle after 15 years of employment to help raise her grandchildren.

As a child, she and her family spent countless weekends at their cottage on Wolf Creek in Slippery Rock. In her spare time, Phyllis enjoyed crafting, sewing, quilting, doing yard work, spending time with her grandchildren, and watching the Pittsburgh Steelers.

She was a member of the Slippery Rock Volunteer Fire Department Women’s Auxiliary and volunteered in the PTOs at her children’s schools. She also was a member of Stanley Snyder VFW Post 7565 in Springfield Township, and belonged to Friendship Presbyterian Church in Slippery Rock.

Survivors include two daughters, Dawn L. (Michael) Bastin of Cabot, and Wendy A. Cooper (fiancé Michael George) of Slippery Rock; her son, Kent L. (Shayne) Cooper of Slippery Rock; her sister, Elizabeth (Frank) Verterano of New Wilmington; five grandchildren, Brandon, Brooke, Brittany and Bryce Bastin of Cabot, and Zachary Cooper of Slippery Rock; and her great-grandson, Raiden Vogel.

COOPER — Visitation for Phyllis Ann (Miller) Cooper, who died Tuesday, April 25, 2023, will be held from 5 to 9 p.m. Friday and from 10 a.m. until the time of the service at 11 a.m. Saturday at SMITH FUNERAL HOME, 421 New Castle St., Slippery Rock.

A funeral service will be conducted at 11 a.m. Saturday at the funeral home with the Rev. Diana Whitman presiding.

Interment will follow at Slippery Rock Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to Slippery Rock Volunteer Fire Department and Rescue, 162 Elm Street, Slippery Rock, PA 16057; or Friendship Presbyterian Church, 477 Franklin Road, Slippery Rock, PA 16057.

Please sign the guest book at www.butlereagle.com.