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Donna Marie (Musgrove) Cooper, 95, of Clare, Michigan, beloved wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother went to be with her loving Lord and husband of 68 years, Ronald, on Wednesday, January 25, 2017.

Donna was born on September 12, 1921 to Fred and Edith (Kraft) Musgrove in Hersey, Michigan. Donna graduated from Hersey High School in 1940 and continued her education and graduated from Laura Bailes Cosmetology School in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan. She worked at the Sally Bruce Beauty Shop in Evart, Michigan for her internship. Donna and Ron became engaged on December 7, 1941, Pearl Harbor Day and married on May 3, 1942. They moved to Clare where she has lived for the past 74 years. Donna was employed at the Mary Holbrook Beauty Shop and also worked for Schaeffer Dairy collecting milk bills. Donna devoted a significant amount of time in her life to volunteering with the Michigan State University Extension Service, teaching knitting and sewing for the 4H participants, and working at the American Red Cross blood bank drives for over 40 years.

Donna was always knitting for her children and grandchildren sweaters, mittens, baby bonnets and blankets. She learned to knit from her grandmother Musgrove at the age of 8. Donna was well known as the grandma who knitted baby booties on four needles for hundreds of babies for friends, family and many times sent the booties across the country to distant locations.

Donna was a member of the Congregational United Church of Christ in Clare for over 70 years where she worked at many funeral luncheons, supported the church office and was a member of the Women’s Fellowship, active in many of their church fundraising activities. Later in her life she worked at the Clare Hardware until Ron’s retirement from Dow Chemical Company. During retirement years they traveled across the United States by Greyhound bus and car, sightseeing and visiting family. Donna and Ron were very active in their retirement years bike riding and walking every day, including the annual Crop Walks in Clare and made the annual walk across the Mackinaw Bridge on Labor Day 1988.

She is survived by her five children, who learned from her the valuable lessons of love, giving of time to others in your community and making time with family and friends a priority; Karla Cooper of Mt. Pleasant, MI., Terry (Pam Davis) Cooper of Ely, MN., James Cooper of Reed City, MI., Joel (Jacquelyn) Cooper of Augusta, MI. and Suellen (John) Jessen of Nineveh, IN., grandchildren Marcie (Larry) Grawburg, Amy (David) Pavlik, Jennifer (Craig) Winters, Emily Cooper (Rich Weeks), Sara (Mark) Zendner, Jonathon (KLynn) Cooper, Mike (Anne) Moody, Matt (Allison) Moody, Kevin (Shelby) Cooper, Mava Cooper, Paul (Melissa) Cooper, Aaron (Joanna) Cooper, Justin (Mary) Christensen-Cooper, Vanessa Krajnik, Veronica Krajnik, Jamison Krajnik, Zachary (Kate) Jessen, Erika (Drew) Woodrum, Julie (Doni) Blair. 35 great grandchildren, one great-great grandson, several nieces and nephews.

Donna was preceded in death by her loving husband Ron, parents, sister, Norma Basenger, brothers, Clare Musgrove and Robert Musgrove.

The funeral service will be conducted at the Clare Congregational United Church of Christ at 105 West 5th Street, Clare, MI., on Sunday, January 29, 2017 with a visitation at 1:00 p.m. and service at 2:00 p.m. Burial will take place at Cherry Grove Cemetery in Clare. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Clare Congregational United Church of Christ or the Ronald H. and Donna M. Cooper Family Fund through the Mt. Pleasant Area Community Foundation.

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