Shirley Marie (Dill) Cooper

Shirley Marie (Dill) Cooper, 88, of Fishers, Indiana, took our Lord’s hand on February 25, 2025. She was born on July 2, 1936, in Indianapolis, Indiana, to parents, William Ezra Dill and Annabelle (Goens) Dill.

Shirley was an amazing woman of faith, strength, courage, wisdom, and was the definition of unconditional love and kindness. All who knew her were instantly connected to her warmth and enthusiasm for life! Her smile, blue eyes and laughter would light up the world around her. She was just Mom being Mom. A beautiful wife, Mother, Grandmother, (AKA G-ma, GG), Great Grandmother, Aunt, Daughter, Sister, friend, and mentor who enriched our lives by simply being in it.

Shirley loved our Lord. She was a member of The Promise United Methodist Church until they closed their doors in 2021. She loved her church family and the weekly Bible studies classes. She loved her family, and her four-leggeds! Her cats Midnight (age 24!), Seven Up, and dog Kaiser to name just a few. She loved her winged babies, especially owls and cardinals. And frogs, she loved her frogs! Truly, she loved all of God’s creatures. Shirley loved to cook! Whether a holiday feast including her Oyster dressing, her extra crispy (with extra crispies!) fried chicken, her sausage gravy and biscuits, or a brand-new recipe, she was quite at home in the kitchen. She so enjoyed the simplest of things, sunbeams on the porch, the “forest”, a Sunday paper, reading the Bible every year on her tablet. She enjoyed her game shows, especially Wheel, our TV nights, crosswords, and scratch offs! And grocery shopping! High on the list were Lindt truffles, dark or white chocolates, she loved them both, tomatoes, corn on the cob in season, strawberries, pineapple, holiday fruitcake, and of course, Baby Kosher Dills! She was passionate about her Colts football, and with good luck charms in place, would watch every game she could. Most of all, she loved spending time with her family.

Shirley attended Warren Central High School and graduated from Howe High School where she was a cheerleader, and met the love of her life, Ronald Cooper. They celebrated 60 years of marriage. Besides being a mother of 4 children, she worked full-time, and somehow managed to bowl in a women’s league for several years inspiring 3 of her children to enjoy the sport in youth leagues and beyond. She worked and retired from Community Hospital East in various administrative roles. She wore many hats including the Emergency Department, to the Chaplain’s office, and finally the Hook Rehabilitation Center. She so loved working with people! This led to her next career move in her early 50’s, real estate. Because of her integrity, honesty, and authenticity, she flourished! It brought her such joy to help others find their perfect home. This was truly her calling, and she was a top producer because she was so trusted in the field. She remained an active agent into her early seventies!

Shirley is survived by her children; Lynn Cooper-Helm (Keith), Scott Cooper (Lavonne), and Brent Cooper (Robin); Grandchildren; Andy Cooper (Ellen), Spencer Cooper (Madison), Shelby Kipfer (Nate), Ben Cooper (Madilyn), Tiffany Williams (Dustin), Danielle Piper (Kyle), Ashley Helm. Great Grandchildren; Annah, Colton, Maryn, Brooklyn, Parker, Claire, Jolene, June, Natalie; a host of nieces, nephews, friends and Little Biscuit.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her loving husband, Ronald Cooper, a son, Mark Cooper, and her five brothers and sisters, Sonny, Letha, Sally, Glory and Duke, with Shirley being the youngest.

A Celebration of Life will be from 11a-1p on Friday, April 4, 2025, at Flanner Buchanan – Oaklawn Memorial Gardens (Conner Suite) – 9700 Allisonville Rd., Indianapolis, IN 46250. She will be laid to rest privately.

Memorial contributions in her name may be made to The Hamilton County Humane Society, or to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital.

Come to me, all you are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Mathew: 11:28

...I will not forget you! Isaiah 49:15

"When tomorrow starts without me, please try to understand. That an angel came and called my name and took me by the hand: The angel said my place was ready, In Heaven far above. And that I’d have to leave behind all those I dearly love. But when I walked through Heaven’s Gates, I felt so much at home, for God looked down, and smiled at me, and told me “Welcome Home”. So, when tomorrow starts without me, don’t think we’re far apart, for every time you think of me, I’m right there in your heart."