Kay Francis Cooper

Kay Francis Gilmer Cooper entered this world on August 1, 1934, the third child born to Odell Tommy Gilmer Lee with the providence and protection of God raised by her loving grandparents Fred and Jennie Gilmer, two of the founding members of Northside Missionary Baptist Church. Kay’s zestful and lively spirit mingled with her unequivocal advocacy for equity whether it was teaching her children the foxtrot or swing to traveling to hear BB King, Tina Turner and Al Green along with serving as a Girl Scout Leader, Softball Coach, Election Poll Worker as well as running for office to serve on the Board of Education for Kennett Public School. She voted absentee in the historic 2024 election with the hope to see a woman as president in her lifetime. She was a founding member of the Heart Health Coalition and the Northwest Ladies Club as well as a member of the Central Star Chapter of the OES. Even with all the civic work and community service, Kay Francis’ heart was set like flint on serving the Lord with gladness. As a lifelong member of Northside Missionary Baptist Church, she was a soprano in the choir, youth Sunday School Teacher, Baptist Training Union teacher, Missionary Society member and a faithful member of the Mothers Board. Not only was she a lifetime member at Northside but also affiliated with St. John AME Church where she traveled as a lay delegate to the African Methodist Episcopal Church Conference in Los Angeles in 1976. She was actively engaged with the Hattie Baker Circle with First United Methodist Church. Kay loved a good bargain and a great sale, and it didn’t matter if it was JC Penny’s, Sears or just a good old garage sale on Saturday mornings, she enjoyed rummaging! And she was known as a trend setter and bootleg hairdresser! The straightening comb and marcel curling iron would be smoking on the weekends where folks couldn’t wait to come to Kay’s kitchen for a good press and curl! But the highlight of her life was when as a kindergartener in the Negro School—Central in Hayti, MO where she met the love of her life, Joel “Billy” Cooper. And even when the circuitous nature of life took them from each other, somehow God brought them back together where they raised eight children! Although she was a stern disciplinarian, who demanded excellence, her sweetness would always be on display with each meal she prepared with that zestful flare of culinary excellence! Although Kay would have preferred staying in the work force, her husband believed that the greatest work with a good return on investment was to become a domestic engineer that morphed into becoming the Village Mother, the sage, the muse, the role model for so many. The Grand kids became her greatest joy and stamped with her legacy of all that is good in this world. She couldn’t quit laughing at the sight of the great grands as well, probably seeing her essence in each one. Kay’s life story included living under the Jim Crow oppression with this strong belief that God didn’t discriminate and to never shrink but stand tall in the midst of all that is not right or just. She reminded not only her children but her grandchildren that you have the right to be just like anybody else but remember some folks might mean you harm because of your skin, always believe God is with you and if you have to fight…don’t give up. Kay was the manifestation of the phrase pray without ceasing, even if she sneezed, she’d bellow out “Lord help” or yawn, “Lord Have Mercy” and her nightly prayers on bended knees down by her bedside she did until she couldn’t kneel down, the prayers would be upon her rising and in her sitting …And with the last few minutes of her life, she asked Angela and Gerald to put on her gloves and her shoes, comb her hair then sat up and she declared, “Jesus, come get me” and as she took her last few breaths of this life, she uttered the Lord’s prayer. Kay Francis Gilmer Cooper leaves to cherish her life her three siblings: Percy Lee (Pat), Jennie Lee and Jettie Young (Fred); her children, Webber Douglas Gilmer, Gerald R. Gilmer, Ron Y. Gilmer (Sandra), Shelia Y. Cooper, George N. Cooper, Karla J. Cooper and Angela K. Cooper Fobbs; 16 grandchildren, great grandchildren, siblings and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. A Celebration of Life is planned for Saturday, November 16, 2024, at 1:00 p.m. at the Powell Funeral Chapel, 1811 Southwest Dr. Kennett, MO 63857. Powell Funeral & Cremation Services, Kennett is in charge of arrangements.