St. Clair County Obits

MARY ANN HOOPER

In Memory of
Mary Ann Hooper
Date of Birth
October 27, 1854
Date of Death
February 7, 1951
Date and Hour
Of Service
Friday, February 9
2:30 p.m.
Held From
Bear Creek Church
Clergyman
Rev. Albert Gaston
Place Of Interment
Bear Creek Cemetery

Thursday, 3 November, 1951
95 Years Old Last Thursday
Mrs. Mary Hooper Is A Long Time Resident Here
Mrs. Mary Wilson Hoooper celebrated her 95th birthday last Thursday at her small home in the northern part of Osceola. She has been a resident of this community for the last 77 years.
With her mother and six brothers and sisters, Mrs. Hooper came toa  farm in the Bear Creek community east of Osceola from the old Wilson home in Bowling Green, Kentucky. The trip was made by railroad and three full days were required to complete it. A brother, Jim Wilson, and a sister, Mrs. Cynthia Greenwell, preceded the remainder of the family to St. Clair County.
While in most respects Mrs. Hooper's health is good, her eyesight has failed perceptibly in recent months and her hearing is not sharp. She spends most of her days sitting and rocking in a chair by a window that overlooks the Osage river and the dam. Her memory is extremely sharp in that she was able to recall old dates and figures with apparent ease. She was rather shy on receiving publicity, stating that "I kind of hate to have my picture in the paper."
Old age is not uncommon in Mrs. Hooper's family in that a sister, the late Mrs. Cynthia Greenwell lived to be 96.
Mrs. Hooper was married September 5, 1876 to John Hooper, who died in 1928. They had nine children of whom five are living. They are Mrs. Cynthia McNutt, Mrs. Maudie Pryne and Mrs. Birdie Hooper all of Osceola, John Hooper of Athol, Kansas and R.H. Hooper of the Bear Creek Community. Mrs. McNutt has been staying with and caring for her mother constantly since she moved to town from the farm in February of 1944. Mrs. Hooper also has 23 grandchildren and a host of great grandchildren.
She was known as a skilled seamstress until a few years ago when her eyesight prevented her from doing her work. On her birthday October 27, Mrs. Hooper, her neice, Mrs. Minnie Snyder of Lowry City, and Mrs. Lucinda McNutt entertained R.H. Hooper, Mrs. Maudie Pryne, Mrs. and Mrs. Henry Endicott, Mrs. Clyde Vest and Mrs. Birdie Moore. She received a shower of cards and gifts. Mrs. Bertha Lawton was an afternoon caller.

Osceola, Missouri
Thursday, February 15, 1951
Obituary
Mary Wilson Hooper was born in Bowling Green, Kentucky October 27, 1854, and passed away at her home in Osceola Wednesday morning, February 7, 1951, being past 96 years of age.
When about 13 years old, she came with her mother and six brothers and sisters to Missouri, whither another brother and sister had preceded them. The family settled on a farm in the Bear Creek community, east of Osceola. She lived in this neighborhood until seven years ago, when she came with her daughter, Mrs. Cinda McNutt, to Osceola. In her Bear Creek home, she was wooed and won by John M. Hooper, and married to him on September 5, 1876. Here they established their home, and here they reared their family of nine children, five of whom are now living.
As the wife of an energetic and successful farmer, Mrs. Hooper led a busy life, being a true helpmate to her husband, a devoted mother to her children and a kidn and generous neighbor and friend. Her hands were always busy with the daily tasks which the housewives of today accomplish in so much less time with the aid of modern inventions. The busy hands molded the candles which furnished their light, made great kettles of soap, spun and wove and knitted the garments her family wore. Now, she has entered into her rest, and the tired hands are released from their labors.
In late years her eyesight had failed and she was unable to read or sew, which distressed her, as she had always been very skillful with her needle. Her general health was good and her mind very active. Her wonderful memory was a source of great pleasure to her friends and relatives, who listened to her reminescences with delight. Her Christian fortitude sustained her to the last, and only on the last day of her life was she confined to her bed, insisting always in sitting in her chair, and entering into the life about her. She was ready and eager however, to pass on to her eternal home, just biding her time until the Master called.
She is survived by five children, Mrs. Cinda McNutt, Mrs. Maude Prine, Mrs. Birdie Moore, Robert H. Hooper, of Athol, Kansas. Also suviving are 22 grandchildren, 32 great grandchildren and three great-great grandchildren, all of whom, with a host of relatives, rise up to call her blessed, and though they grieve because of their loss, they glory in her cororiation.
Services were held at the Bear Creek church Friday at 2:30 p.m. with Rev. Albert Gaston officiating. The music was in charge of Mrs. Roxy Martin at the piano and a quartet composed of Mr. and Mrs. Keith Hannah and Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Luckey sang several of Mrs. Hooper's favorite hymns. Interment was in the adjacent cemetery lot under the direction of the Goodrich Funeral Home.
The family of the late Mrs. Mary Wilson Hooper wish to extend their sincere thanks and express their apreciation of the many kindnesses shown during her illness and death, by the many friends, relatives and neighbors, and to all who in any way helped to make the service a comfort in our hour of sorrow.