Joyce Manker Cooper, a resident of Oakdale since 1964, passed away on Friday, March 23, at the age of 90, after a brief illness.
She is preceded in death by her parents, Estel and Leola Manker. She is survived by her husband of 69 years, Ernest; her three children, Kay Parisot, Mike (Patti) Cooper, and Steve (Valerie) Cooper; nine grandchildren, and 24 great-grandchildren.
Joyce was born August 6, 1927 and spent her early years in Wilmington, Ohio. After high school she attended Michigan State College and graduated from USC. She taught elementary school for 33 years, and her last 24 years teaching in Oakdale. She loved working with children and over the years has had a positive influence on over 600 students here in Oakdale. In 1987, she was honored with the Teacher of the Year award from Oakdale Union School District. Her greatest love was her family! She enjoyed spending time with her children and grandchildren, hosting them often in her home. She was a wonderful cook and mentor to her family. She and Ernie traveled throughout the United States with their trailer and enjoyed cruising to many destinations. Joyce was an accomplished pianist and marched with the band at Michigan State. She belonged to several organizations including the Methodist Church, Delta Cappa Gamma, A.A.U.W. and Colonial Dames. She also enjoyed sewing, cooking, and genealogy in her spare time. She was loved by and will be greatly missed by her family and friends. Services will be held Thursday, March 29 at 11 a.m. at the Methodist Church, 1480 Poplar St., Oakdale, CA 95361.
The Oakdale (Calif.) Leader
March 28, 2018